The Irish Charolais Cattle Society (ICCS) has hit out against the Department’s “unworkable” Level 5 mart protocols following its first pedigree bull sale of 2021.
ICCS secretary Nevan McKiernan said its online sale, which took place in Tullamore last Saturday, achieved just a 63pc clearance rate, with many breeders and buyers left “angry” after investing substantial time and money to prepare for the event.
Mr McKiernan said: “No exhibitors were allowed on site during viewing time, so when buyers came in to view the bulls, by appointment, there were no exhibitors there.
“It was very hard for a buyer to look at a bull standing up in a pen beside another bull and pay four or five thousand euro for that bull – it’s different with a normal commercial animal.