A special sale of weanlings and breeding heifers – as well as a suckler dispersal sale – are set to be held at Ballinakill Mart this weekend, it has been announced.
The sale will take place in conjunction with the usual cattle sale this Saturday, December 5 in the midlands mart, which is situated in Ballinakill, Co. Laois.
According to the mart, the weanling and sale will represent “a great chance to sell cattle, with serious demand expected,” in light of Basic Payment Scheme balance payments and suckler scheme payments currently issuing, as well as Covid-19 restrictions easing.
Booking ahead will be essential, according to the mart.
Buyers return to ringsides
Meanwhile, as of today (Tuesday, December 1) marts around the country have been allowed to welcome buyers back to the ringside as Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions came to an end and Level 3 regulations kicked in.
This follows on from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine sending a letter to marts around the country last week, which provided an update on expected protocols for marts following the easing of restrictions.
This letter detailed what restrictions would mean on the ground, stating: “The conditions likely to apply under Level 4 are that buyers can enter the sales ring subject to a minimum social distance of 2m; otherwise, the same conditions as for Level 5 apply.
“The conditions likely to apply under Level 3 are that buyers can view stock in the pens without prior appointment subject to a minimum social distance of 2m; otherwise, the same conditions as for Level 4 apply,” the letter noted.