The newly launched Mart Tracker by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is designed to provide farmers with up-to-date information on animals available for sale at marts across the length and breadth of the country.

The ICBF Mart Tracker provides real-time data, allowing users to access key details such as the number of animals in a lot, date of birth, sex, and breed.

Additionally, genetic information will be available to access for animals that meet the following criteria:

Replacement/terminal/dairy beef index (DBI): Seller's herd must be signed up to HerdPlus and/or the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP);
Commercial beef value (CBV): Seller's herd must be signed up to HerdPlus and the animal must be DNA sire verified.

Accessible through the ICBF website on both mobile devices and desktop computers, the Mart Tracker is free to use and does not require users to log into an ICBF or HerdPlus account for access, making it easier to use.

Farmers can view the lot numbers of animals of interest in advance and can rule out animals that are not suitable on any given day.

This will ensure farmers avoid spending unnecessary time at the mart or monitoring online auctions, ensuring a more efficient and productive use of their time.

The tracker has the potential to benefit marts, sellers, and buyers alike. For marts and sellers, it can attract a larger customer base, increasing demand for their animals.

Meanwhile, buyers can save valuable time by accessing detailed information on available livestock in advance, which enables more efficient and informed purchasing decisions.

The ICBF Mart Tracker is now live and is actively used by hundreds of farmers on a daily basis. With peak purchasing season in full swing, this tool is now more valuable than ever.