Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed launched the new calf handling facilities at Bandon Mart recently. Costing in excess of €500,000, there is penning in place for more than 800 calves.
The minister commended the leadership and investment that Cork Marts showed with the facility, saying: “I’d like acknowledge the vote of confidence this is in the calf sector.”
He added that welfare “is absolutely front and centre for ensuring the continued export of cattle and calves”.
Everybody’s commitment to the highest welfare standards is critical to the continuation of this industry
In 2015 there were 145,000 live exports of cattle. In 2019 that figure was 300,000, of which 200,000 were calves.
“Everybody’s commitment to the highest welfare standards is critical to the continuation of this industry,” the minister said.
He told those assembled that when on a visit to the Netherlands in late 2019 he met buyers who complimented Irish calves for their quality. But he added a note of caution, saying that on the same day they were visiting Dutch calf buyers, there was a vote in the Dutch parliament to ban live imports of cattle.
He also stated welfare is almost always raised at meetings of the council of ministers.
Calf flow
The new facilities will enable better calf flow and offer more calf comfort. Working within the parameters of the existing facilities and tying in with old buildings meant a lot of planning went into the project.
Bandon mart manager, Tom McCarthy with the new calf handling facilities.
Mart manager Tom McCarthy said: “This is one of the busiest calf marts in the country. In 2019 we put through 31,500 calves in this shed alone. So it’s great that Cork Marts have the confidence to invest here. There’s massive expansion in the dairy herd and the four west Cork co-ops make up our main catchment area so hopefully we can build on that and provide a good service for west Cork farmers.
“Bandon has a great name and reputation over the years for the quality and number of calves and hopefully we have a facility there for the next generation as well.”
The new pens have capacity for more thna 800 calves.
Cork marts CEO Sean O'Sullivan said: “Bandon is the flagship when it comes to the calf business. Somewhere in excess of 1.5m calves have gone through Bandon Mart since it commenced the calf business.”
Addressing the negativity that has surrounded the calf trade in recent months, he said: “This is a vote of confidence in the calf business. We’re in the business of trading calves and we want to do it to the highest standard in terms of facilities and in terms of welfare. We would hope to maintain a good throughput in Bandon and that we can retain and maintain the confidence of our sellers and buyers into the future.”
O’Sullivan reiterated the comments of Minister Creed regarding welfare.
Read more
IFA policy on welfare and value of dairy calves
Calf rearing investment scheme opens for applications
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed launched the new calf handling facilities at Bandon Mart recently. Costing in excess of €500,000, there is penning in place for more than 800 calves.
The minister commended the leadership and investment that Cork Marts showed with the facility, saying: “I’d like acknowledge the vote of confidence this is in the calf sector.”
He added that welfare “is absolutely front and centre for ensuring the continued export of cattle and calves”.
Everybody’s commitment to the highest welfare standards is critical to the continuation of this industry
In 2015 there were 145,000 live exports of cattle. In 2019 that figure was 300,000, of which 200,000 were calves.
“Everybody’s commitment to the highest welfare standards is critical to the continuation of this industry,” the minister said.
He told those assembled that when on a visit to the Netherlands in late 2019 he met buyers who complimented Irish calves for their quality. But he added a note of caution, saying that on the same day they were visiting Dutch calf buyers, there was a vote in the Dutch parliament to ban live imports of cattle.
He also stated welfare is almost always raised at meetings of the council of ministers.
Calf flow
The new facilities will enable better calf flow and offer more calf comfort. Working within the parameters of the existing facilities and tying in with old buildings meant a lot of planning went into the project.
Bandon mart manager, Tom McCarthy with the new calf handling facilities.
Mart manager Tom McCarthy said: “This is one of the busiest calf marts in the country. In 2019 we put through 31,500 calves in this shed alone. So it’s great that Cork Marts have the confidence to invest here. There’s massive expansion in the dairy herd and the four west Cork co-ops make up our main catchment area so hopefully we can build on that and provide a good service for west Cork farmers.
“Bandon has a great name and reputation over the years for the quality and number of calves and hopefully we have a facility there for the next generation as well.”
The new pens have capacity for more thna 800 calves.
Cork marts CEO Sean O'Sullivan said: “Bandon is the flagship when it comes to the calf business. Somewhere in excess of 1.5m calves have gone through Bandon Mart since it commenced the calf business.”
Addressing the negativity that has surrounded the calf trade in recent months, he said: “This is a vote of confidence in the calf business. We’re in the business of trading calves and we want to do it to the highest standard in terms of facilities and in terms of welfare. We would hope to maintain a good throughput in Bandon and that we can retain and maintain the confidence of our sellers and buyers into the future.”
O’Sullivan reiterated the comments of Minister Creed regarding welfare.
Read more
IFA policy on welfare and value of dairy calves
Calf rearing investment scheme opens for applications
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