Cattle dealers are boycotting marts this morning over rules introduced during the foot-and-mouth crisis that force dealers to hold on to animals bought at marts for 30 days.
A Department of Agriculture spokesman said the 30-day rule would not be lifted and said it had been retained to prevent the spread of disease.
But the Livestock Producers' and Suppliers' Association, which represents the dealers, said today they cannot operate under the present system because to keep an animal for 30 days costs too much.
A spokesperson for the association said registered dealers and others who buy animals outside of the mart system are not affected by the rule which meant they are at a disadvantage.
The cattle dealers are expected to boycott marts for the rest of the week following the refusal of the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh to amend the rule.