Up to 500 cattle go on sale for the second time

Security was very tight at the second auction to resell up to 500 Holstein cattle on Monday after a lender obtained a judgment against their former owner, a Co Cork farmer.

It is understood that prospective buyers had to pay a €5,000 deposit before they were allowed enter the farmyard in Nohoval on Monday morning.

About 50 buyers gathered at Craden Hill Farm outside Kinsale for the auction, being held by sales agent Denis Barrett on behalf of Cork County Sheriff Sinead McNamara.

One buyer, who asked not to be identified, said the Holstein cattle involved highly specialised farming and “wouldn’t be for everyone”.

“There would be limited interest as it is high-maintenance. From what I can see, they are achieving a better price this morning than at the previous auction.

“The cattle range in age from three to about 10 and they would have a better milk yield than other cattle.

“I do feel a bit sorry for the family who lost them,” he said, “but it is better that they are sold on to other farmers than go to a factory.”

Buyers at the auction travelled from as far away as the UK to bid on the cattle that were previously owned by farmer Peter Kingston.

Thirty protesters picketed the previous auction, but the second auction passed without incident.

‘Tough day’

Speaking at his home, Mr Kingston said it was another tough day for the family.

“It’s a mess. That’s the way of the world,” he said. “We don’t know what we are going to do.

“I didn’t give them any rights over my cattle. I only gave them rights over property. It’s your livelihood taken away from you. It is the tools of your trade taken away from you.”

It is understood the cattle sold for an average of €1,100 on Monday. The lowest price was €800 and the highest was €2,200.

In April 2015, a judgment was sought against the Kingston family by ACC Loan Management over loans of nearly €2.4 million.

A receiver was subsequently appointed to oversee the sale of more than 1,000 cattle on the farm.