Marts are to be allowed facilitate the sale of animals under protocols agreed by the Department of Agriculture. Marts have been closed since last week due to concerns over the spread of Covid-19, at a time that is one of the busiest times of the year for sales.
Under the measures agreed late last night, marts will be able to provide a limited range of services. Marts will match buyers and sellers, weigh animals and oversee the sale, however there will be no public auctions and no crowds attending.
Each mart will have to submit its operating protocol, which will then be approved by the Department. Hundreds of thousands of calves born as a result of the booming dairy industry will need to be sold, and many will be exported.