Golden Vale Marts has laid off nearly 50 workers in four premises in Co Limerick because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. A further 30 employees are affected at its marts in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, Tullamore, Co Offaly, and Leitrim.
The company revealed yesterday it was trying to become involved in the control movement of cattle, in an attempt to retrieve some of the jobs and to ease hardship on farmers and hauliers.
According to the company's general manager, Mr P.J. Buckley, they hoped to act as a co-ordinator between livestock buyers and sellers. "We have the data bases and the facilities and we are actively pursuing the idea."
The company is supported by the ICMSA, which has suggested using marts as assembly points for cattle going directly for slaughter.
The ICMSA Limerick county chairman and former president, Mr Frank Allen, said marts could be used to source buyers and sellers for the overflow of newly-born calves now on farms which lacked the facilities to keep them.