Live exports: cattle boat to load for Turkey

The next shipment of live cattle destined for Turkey is due to load next week.

A livestock boat is en route for Waterford Port and will be loaded with just over 3,000 yearling bulls by Purcell Brothers. The cattle are now completing a period of quarantine.

This will bring Purcell Brothers close to halfway in filling its 20,000 head contract with Turkey’s state import body, the meat and milk board.

The firm had a deadline of August to deliver these cattle but it is likely now that the final shipments could run on into the early autumn.

Boat inspection

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that Purcell Brothers has asked the Department of Agriculture to inspect another livestock boat for approval to carry cattle to Turkey.

If approved, this boat would carry subsequent shipments.

It has broadly similar capacity to the boat the firm has used to date, at close to 3,000 head.

Cattle buyers from a number of other non-EU markets continue to show interest in Irish cattle.

One Irish exporter was in talks this week with a Libyan company which has an interest in buying a boatload of slaughter-weight bulls here in early autumn. Algerian buyers are also seeking prices and quotes.

Egypt

The other market which has a requirement for cattle is Egypt. Ireland has an export certificate in place with this market covering slaughter-weight cattle but none for younger, feeder-weight animals.

The Egyptian veterinary authorities have just agreed a health certificate with France covering export of feeder-type cattle, according to Bord Bia’s meat and livestock manager Joe Burke.

That is a positive sign, he says, as it indicates demand there for cattle.

The Department of Agriculture has been in discussions with its Egyptian counterpart for some time regarding a new health cert.

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