The ICBF Mart Tracker is a free online tool which allows farmers to see what animals are for sale in marts every day. It works on your phone, tablet or computer. You do not need an app or a login to use the ICBF Mart Tracker.
- Go straight to the right pens. Note the lot numbers of the animals you want, and walk straight to them on the day.
- Skip wasted trips. If nothing at the mart meets your criteria, you can decide not to go.
- See genetic data before you bid. Where it’s available, you can check EuroStar ratings, Commercial Beef Value (CBV) and other breeding indexes.
What you’ll see on the Mart Tracker
Every animal for sale shows basic details such as lot number, date of birth, sex and breed. Where applicable, animals will also show genetic data such as the Commercial Beef Value (CBV), EuroStar indexes, and other breeding indexes. Every animal put forward for sale at a mart has its passport (blue card) scanned at the intake. The animal’s details are then transferred to ICBF to check if there are genetic index details available. Once scanned, ICBF knows that the animal is for sale in the mart, giving farmers real-time visibility of what is on offer.
How to use the Mart Tracker
Pick a mart, then narrow the list with search and filters.
- Open the Mart Tracker. The home screen shows marts available on today’s date and how many animals are for sale at each mart broken into the following four categories: All animals (total count), Dairy, Dairy x Beef and Suckler breed types.
- Select your mart by clicking on ‘All animals’ or one of the breed types.
- Once a mart is selected, the animal list shows each animal’s lot number, the number of animals in the lot, date of birth, sex, breed, and breed type. Where genetic indices are available, e.g. CBV or EuroStar Index, the relevant star rating will also be displayed.
- Click on the lot number to view additional details in the pop-up screen such as the sire tag number/AI code, genetic index values and traits such as Milk, Carcass Weight, and Calving Interval.
- Use the search box to find a lot, breed or specific sire tag/AI code. A count below the search box shows how many animals match your searched criteria.
- Tap the filter button to narrow the list. You can filter by date of birth, sex, breed and genomic evaluation. You can also filter by genetic index such as CBV, Replacement, Terminal, EBI and DBI. A count below the search box shows how many animals match your filtered criteria.
- Note the lot numbers of the animals you want to see on the day.
- Tap the home button to go back to the main mart list.
Tip: Refresh for the latest animals. Marts add animals throughout the day as they scan them in. Tap the refresh button to see new entries, and refresh again before you travel.
Watch the ICBF Mart Tracker in action
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Mart Tracker app for iPhone or Android? The Mart Tracker is not currently available on the HerdPlus app. The Mart Tracker runs in the web browser on your phone, tablet or computer. Open the Mart Tracker.
Do I need a HerdPlus account? No. Anyone can use the Mart Tracker without logging in.
Is it free? Yes.
Why can’t I see genetic data for an animal? Genetic data only shows when the seller’s herd meets certain conditions. For example, the seller’s herd must be signed up to HerdPlus and/or SCEP in order for the EuroStar index to display. If these conditions are not met, you will see basic details such as breed, sex and date of birth.
When does an animal appear on the Mart Tracker? An animal appears once the mart scans its passport at intake. Marts add animals throughout the day, so tap the refresh button to see the latest list.
What does a lot like “1C (4/4)” mean? It’s lot 1C, and this is animal 4 of the 4 animals in that lot.
Benefits for buyers, sellers and marts
The Mart Tracker brings mart data and genetic data together, which helps both sides of the sale.
- Buyers can see the lot numbers of the animals of interest, which means they can go straight to those pens to look at the animals when they arrive at the mart. If there are no animals suitable in the mart on that day, the farmer does not have to spend the day around a mart ring or watching online, saving both time and cost.
- Sellers and marts get more visibility by giving farmers easy access to information they often contact the mart for ahead of a sale, such as expected animal numbers and animal types. This can help reduce routine queries and save time for both mart staff and customers.
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