![Top quality lambs were a feature of fortnightly sales at Cootamundra saleyards. Picture supplied. Top quality lambs were a feature of fortnightly sales at Cootamundra saleyards. Picture supplied.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yLeFMnh28MAxupuQMFvs9Q/ecce46f3-b1a7-4315-b30f-a79760d0ced3.jpg/r0_131_750_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The sheep and lamb pens at the Cootamundra saleyards now stand quiet and deserted following the decision by the local agents association to cease trading at the centre last week.
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The action taken by the Cootamundra Associated Agents follows recent years of declining lamb and sheep numbers at the saleyards.
The saleyards is situated on the Olympic Highway on the northern approach into Cootamundra and is operated by Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council.
The sheep and lamb sales were held fortnightly.
Cootamundra Associated Agents stated in a letter to Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council that the proposed sheep and goat individual electronic identification (IED) would also place undue financial pressure on agents and suppliers.
![Why did Cootamundra saleyards close? Why did Cootamundra saleyards close?](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yLeFMnh28MAxupuQMFvs9Q/9ce423a7-7b27-4ec4-97fb-942f67fa9d55.jpg/r0_37_1865_1087_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is currently transitioning to mandatory IED for sheep and goats.
Council had been working with the DPI to gain a grant to implement IED at the Cootamundra saleyards.
The mandatory implementation date for IED is January 2025, when all NSW saleyards will be required to have electronic identification in place.
The Council's mayor Charlie Sheahan said Council was saddened that market forces had necessitated the decision by the Cootamundra selling agents to abandon sales at the Cootamundra saleyards.
![Historical picture taken at the Cootamundra saleyards. Picture supplied. Historical picture taken at the Cootamundra saleyards. Picture supplied.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yLeFMnh28MAxupuQMFvs9Q/ba33be11-fb1b-445e-923a-544c9ae663fb.jpg/r0_137_2048_1430_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"This letter from the Cootamundra Associated Agents has come as a surprise, and Council will now have to consider a number of issues regarding the future of the site and the infrastructure in place," Mr Sheahan said.
"Council has invested thousands of dollars in maintaining and improving the site over many years.
"Council is faced with escalating costs in maintenance, compliance, and managing the expectations of agents, buyers, and sellers.
He said the Council would consider all options regarding the site in the future.
![There's a long history of livestock marketing at Cootamundra saleyards. This supplied picture shows a cattle sale in 1932. The 4011 head yarding was a record for the centre at that time. There's a long history of livestock marketing at Cootamundra saleyards. This supplied picture shows a cattle sale in 1932. The 4011 head yarding was a record for the centre at that time.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yLeFMnh28MAxupuQMFvs9Q/83405a9b-c101-40bb-8b4b-63d2b07b89d1.jpg/r0_0_1479_1695_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"It is the belief of the Cootamundra Associated Agents, that due to the very low sheep numbers coming into the yards, and the upcoming introduction of sheep tagging (IED), it is no longer financially viable to utilise the yards for the sale of stock," he said.
Mr Sheahan added that cattle had not been sold at the yards for some time.
He said Cootamundra saleyards were not the first to fall victim to rising costs, low stock numbers and compliance.
"Some very large enterprises in Victoria and South Australia have recently closed, while saleyards in surrounding towns closed many years ago," he said.