Agents for Purcell Brothers have begun buying young bulls at cattle sales with a first shipment to Turkey pencilled in for late April or early May. The firm is confident it has now concluded a contract for 20,000 head with Turkey’s state body the Dairy and Meat Board (ESK).

The contract is for continental-type cattle suited for further feeding and finishing on Turkish farms. Animals must meet the conditions of the Turkish health certificate, including an age limit of 12 months and must be quarantined for 21 days before shipping. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that Purcell Brothers is aiming for further follow-on contracts in 2017. The other major Irish exporters continue to seek additional contracts they can fill – Turkey has a huge requirement for imported meat and livestock in 2017 to feed its growing population.

IFA welcomed the development. “We have been in contact with Purcell Brothers and see this as very positive for the sector,” livestock chair Angus Woods said.

“We expect further contracts to be secured. There is great interest in Irish cattle in Turkey, which is likely to import about 400,000 head in 2017.”

Cattle were bought for Purcell Brothers at Clare Marts’ Ennis sale on Tuesday. Agents were also active for export-type cattle at sales in Manorhamilton, Elphin and Roscommon. These were selling at €2.40-€2.70/kg liveweight.

Meanwhile, IFA president Joe Healy met Egyptian Ambassador Soha Samir Nashd Gendi on Wedensday in Dublin to discuss cattle exports to that country. Healy raised the issue of a new veterinary certificate for fattening cattle which is under discussion between the Department of Agriculture and its counterpart in Egypt. IFA has asked Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to visit Egypt to promote meat and livestock trades and he is considering doing so.

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