The main pedigree sales in Britain are in the process of receiving licences which will remove the need for NI cattle to complete a six-month standstill before re-entering NI.

“We have a solution. A collective effort is now needed of marts working with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to get the necessary licences in place,” said Neil Shand, chief executive of the National Beef Association.

Since January 2021, the NI protocol element of the Brexit withdrawal agreement has made it offputting for local pedigree breeders to show livestock in Britain.

Under the rules, all NI-origin livestock must complete a 180-day residency in Britain if they are not sold or are bought by another NI-based breeder.

This is set out in the export health certificate (EHC) which must accompany livestock on the return journey from Britain back to NI.

However, a new EHC has been agreed by representatives from farmer organisations, DAERA, the UK government, and the European Commission.