The weanling trade is set to receive a boost, with the Turkish market set to open up again for Irish weanlings.

Two exporters are currently in the running to fill the contract that could stretch to over 10,000 weanlings in the next few months.

It is understood that food security concerns in Turkey, along with other Middle Eastern countries, have heightened demand for cattle in recent months.

Ireland exported almost 20,000 weanlings to Turkey in 2016 and this figure rose to a high of just over 30,000 in 2017.

Happy with quality

Turkish importers were said to be very happy with the quality and performance of the cattle.

However, the collapse of the Turkish Lira currency meant no further contracts were issued to Turkish importers and no weanlings have been exported to Turkey in the last few years.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands a number of Turkish buyers visited farms and lairage facilities along with a southern-based exporter last week, while another exporter is actively sourcing shed space for the coming months when purchasing will take place.

Meanwhile, another load of 2,000 bulls is due to set sail for Egypt early next week, with a number of exporters also purchasing for the Libyan market.

Libya has imported 9,708 bulls so far this year, a doubling of the number exported compared with 2021.

Live exports in 2022 continue to perform well, with exports up 11% or almost 24,000 head up to mid-September compared with the same period in 2021.

Calves to the Netherlands make up the bulk of this increase, with an extra 47,000 calves exported to the Netherlands so far in 2022 compared with 2021.