Cattle exports are running at a steady pace. Exporter Viastar has this week loaded approximately 1,000 young bulls on specialist livestock trucks. The cattle are now travelling to the south of Spain and will then take a short boat connection to Turkey. They will be part of a big order for Turkey being filled by a livestock trader based on the continent.
Cattle exports are running at a steady pace. Exporter Viastar has this week loaded approximately 1,000 young bulls on specialist livestock trucks.
The cattle are now travelling to the south of Spain and will then take a short boat connection to Turkey. They will be part of a big order for Turkey being filled by a livestock trader based on the continent.
Co Cork-based Curzon Livestock has made good progress buying Friesian bulls for its contract to Libya. It will load two boatloads in mid-July, if not earlier, owner James Horgan said. He is also buying 400 in-calf Friesian heifers which will be sold on to Libyan farmers to drive herd expansion. Curzon has a number of agents buying for this contract including Co Limerick exporter John Hallissey.
Separately, Co Meath-based Supreme Livestock continues to buy Friesian bulls for its export order to Libya.
Shippers buying cattle this week are being helped by the drought because some farmers are growing concerned about grass supply ahead.
Meanwhile, live exports of calves have passed the 140,000 head mark, with the latest exports of 3,271 head for the week ending 17 June bringing total exports to 140,564 head. It is an increase of 43,298 head on 2017.
Spain is the top performer with export volumes rising by 19,583 calves to 59,350 head and continuing strongly. Exports to the Netherlands are up 4,784 to 45,734 but this trade has now slowed, seasonally, to a trickle.
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