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Agents for livestock exporter John Hallissey are buying heifers for another shipment to Turkey. Hallissey sent a first delivery in April with the Turkish customers very pleased with the quality and health of the cattle.
He is now midway through assembling 1,500 heifers weighing 250-360kg and born in July 2016 or later. The Turkish buyer wants mostly red Limousins as well as yellow and white Charolais, Angus and Belgian Blues.
The heifers will start a 30-day quarantine period on 1 July and ship from Foynes Port in early August.
Headford Mart has told the Irish Farmers Journal it wants heifers suitable for this export order and that in-spec animals have been making a premium of €80 to €100 at its Saturday sales. It also has buyers looking for bulls for export by Purcell Brothers.
High prices
Demand for beef and other meats remains very strong in Turkey with consumer prices high. There are reports that the Turkish government is again considering allowing private importers to bring in cattle and that it will also allow imports of beef.
The government wants to increase domestic production of livestock and meat, and this requires good prices for its farmers. But when retail prices rise too high, the government comes under pressure to allow more imports.
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