Dairy-to-beef 'Calf Market Hub' launched by Kilkenny agri-tech company
Farm Fayre chief executive Kevin O'Connor said that the "lack of a stable marketplace has been a significant barrier".
Co Kilkenny agri-tech company Farm Fayre has announced the launch of its dairy-to-beef 'Calf Market Hub'.
Around 1.5m dairy calves are born each year on Irish farms and Farm Fayre's new platform aims to offer a "direct farmer-to-farmer, field-to-field solution", for the sale of dairy-to-beef calves, addressing key issues of sustainability, convenience, and animal welfare in the agricultural sector.
As the Irish dairy sector's recent emphasis on expanding cow numbers and milk output appears to be easing, farmers are now shifting focus towards maximising the potential of their existing herds, Farm Fayre commented.
The company's new Calf Market Hub aims to offer dairy farmers a marketplace to find consistent buyers for their beef-suited calves.
According to the company, this will "not only lead to financial rewards for the additional efforts and risks taken in producing quality, beef-focused calves, but also stabilises the market for new entrants looking to venture into calf-rearing".
The Farm Fayre platform is "designed to reduce attrition rates among new calf rearers by partnering with industry-leading experts". This collaboration aims to provide support in "minimising risks, maximising returns, and establishing secure supply chains".
Farm Fayre chief executive Kevin O'Connor said that the "lack of a stable marketplace has been a significant barrier, as highlighted by the experience of one such early adopter who faced supply issues due to his main calf supplier being locked up with TB".
"Farm Fayre addresses this challenge by aggregating high-quality sellers, ensuring buyers can purchase with confidence, knowing the calves meet the specified standards or they receive a full refund," Mr O'Connor said.
Sellers on the platform must self-certify that calves are at least 21 days old, have received adequate colostrum at birth, and come from herds with the highest disease and biosecurity control standards.
Additionally, Farm Fayre leverages data from the national genome testing scheme, including Commercial Beef Value (CBV), to provide buyers with further confidence in their purchases.
"Our members appreciate the ability to 'buy' sellers, not just cattle. This significantly lowers the risk profile when purchasing calves, ensuring buyers can return to trusted farmers repeatedly," Mr O'Connor continued.
"Farm Fayre's mission is to decentralise cattle trade, placing control back in the hands of farmers and revitalising the traditional market square concept with a modern twist."
Mr O'Connor said that through this platform, "the seller gets paid, and the buyer gets what they were promised - or their money back".
Last year, Farm Fayre completed the second annual AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme, a 12-week accelerator programme for early-stage startups in Ireland and Europe in the agri-tech, agri-food, and veterinary and equine sectors.
