Farmers Selling Heifers in Marts

IFA National Livestock Committee Chairman Michael Doran said the issue of in-calf heifers being sold in marts was a growing problem and the ICOS guidelines published last week need to be taken on board by both marts and farmers.

Michael Doran said it was agreed with ICOS that when a purchaser finds he has purchased a heifer that subsequently proves to be in-calf, he should contact the mart manager, who will mediate with the seller to try and resolve the situation to mutual satisfaction.

Michael Doran said the problem of in-calf heifers being sold in marts requires a common sense approach by both sellers and buyers and with the assistance of Mart Managers can be solved in a sensible way.