Turkish veterinary officials and cattle buyers are in Ireland this week as the possibility of the opening of a live export trade to Turkey moves closer.
The Turkish market has been described as a ‘massive live export opportunity‘, by the now former Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, for Ireland as long as we can do it properly, ensure the standards are right and that we develop the kind of commercial relationships that can be the basis of a lasting and very important outlet for a growing suckler herd.
It is hoped that this week could see the first commercial contracts signed which would see Irish cattle exported live to Turkey.
“With Bluetongue problems in France, Turkey is looking to Ireland as a major EU supplier,” former IFA Livestock Chairman Henry Burns said.
Cattle type
Burns also said the immediate requirement in Turkey would be for younger stock, mainly bull weanlings up to 12 months of age and up to 300kg, from the suckler herd.
It is understood, the Turkish buyers are looking for beef bred bulls, 6-12 months old. The cattle will be bought in Ireland at 250kg to allow for six weeks of lairage and shipping time.
In 2015, EU exports of live cattle showed an increase of close to 60% year-on-year, mainly thanks to the re-opening of the Turkish market.
Lebanon and Turkey remained the two main destinations for European live cattle and Libya is third.
Turkey imported a total of 380,000 head of live cattle in 2015, the majority from South America. France exported over 120,000 head to the Turkish market in 2015.
Live weanling exports down 33%
The number of weanlings exported from Ireland by live-export means fell by 33% during the first three months of the year, recent figures from Bord Bia show.
To the week ending March 26, just over 2,800 weanlings were exported from Ireland, back by 1,363 head on the same time in 2015.
Speaking at a recent livestock seminar, Bord Bia’s Joe Burke said that weanling exports from Ireland have dropped this year, as the Irish and European beef price is quite close.
Burke said that Italy is the main destination for Irish weanlings, but due to the close beef price and grass buyer demand, Italian cattle imports are likely to decrease this year.