The cattle trade received a major boost this week as Italy’s biggest retailer announced it wants more Irish beef and weanlings.

Coop Italia has decided to sell beef from only antibiotic-free animals.

The retailer believes Ireland is the best source of these due to our small suckler herd size, grass-based system and good herd health profile. Traditionally the retailer has relied heavily on animals from France, taking 200,000 French cattle annually.

It currently takes 35,000 cattle per year from Ireland, both Kepak’s KK Club beef and also live weanlings for finishing on Italian feedlots.

The news comes as autumn-born weanling sales get under way and a new trade deal also promises increased access for Irish beef to the lucrative Japanese market.

Some US retailers have implemented an antibiotic-free policy for beef but Coop Italia is the first big retailer in Europe to go down this route.

The move highlights growing concern about antimicrobial resistance and could mark the start of a beef-buying trend.

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