TWO veterinary officials from Egypt were in Ireland this week to look at our cattle traceability system and animal health controls with a view to a possible reopening of the trade in live exports. The officials met with counterparts in the Department of Agriculture in Dublin and then visited a number of farms in the Leinster area. On one farm they saw firsthand a calf being ear-tagged and then registered online on the Agfood.ie system.

Egypt imported more than 100,000 head of live cattle in 2014, mostly from Australia, Brazil and Uruguay. Purchasing from these countries involves shipments of up to 6,000 head. The Egyptian authorities are interested in sourcing more live cattle from the EU because shipment size can be smaller and logistically easier. If this week’s – and subsequent – discussions go well, that may include buying from Ireland.

IFA livestock chair Henry Burns said that with up to 70,000 additional cattle expected to come on to the Irish market this autumn, the live trade and access to markets needed to be prioritised by the Government.

“We are working with the Department and exporters to progress access and contracts to markets. A real drive is needed to open live exports to Turkey. France exported 80,000 head there last year but Ireland is unfairly denied access.”

There are also live export opportunities for Ireland in Libya, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, he said. The visit by the Egyptian officials concludes on Thursday.