Livestock exporters are keeping a watching brief to see if Turkey’s Meat and Milk Board issues a second tender invitation for live cattle imports.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands the authorities there are actively considering whether to continue with import tenders or allow private traders resume direct, commercial imports of feeder cattle. At present such imports are discouraged by tariffs of 100% and higher.

Under consideration is reducing this tariff to approximately 10% for imports of over 1,000 head of feeder animals by approved traders.

This is not yet confirmed. But Irish exporters expect some decision soon on imports given that Turkey continues to need significant imports of livestock and meat.

Turkey’s Meat and Milk Board issued its last major tender invitation in July, giving interested exporters only a week to apply. That tender led to the shipment of close to 20,000 Irish cattle to that market by 31 December.

Meanwhile, officials from the Department of Agriculture inspected a livestock carrier boat in Lebanon last week. The boat is smaller than those which sailed from Ireland to Turkey and Libya last autumn. It has a rated deadweight of 1,600t and gross tonnage of 2,503. These figures suggest that it could carry 1,000 to 1,200 head of cattle.

Availability of this size of boat would open prospects to more Irish exporters given that the costs of chartering and filling it would be lower than for a 4,000-head boat. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the owners of the boat applied directly to the Department of Agriculture seeking inspection.

Various shipping companies are understood to be seeking Department inspection of another three livestock carriers.

Breeding stock for Turkey

The Irish Farmers Journal has learned that John Hallissey is currently sourcing breeding heifers for the Turkish market. It is understood that efforts are currently under way to source a consignment of 2,800 weanling heifers suitable for export in early February. Hallissey said that he is ‘‘anxious for heifers from 200kg to 400kg’’. With numbers currently low, he is actively sourcing both on farms and in marts. Coloured Limousin, Charolais, Simmental and Belgian Blue heifers are being sourced. The heifers will be required to be under 13 months on arrival in Turkey.

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Shipment of weanlings nears Turkey