The livestock boat Brahman Express is due to arrive in the port of Mersin in Turkey on Thursday 29 December with this year’s final load of weanlings. It will bring to nearly 20,000 the number of cattle exported to Turkey in 2016 after the opening of this trade in the autumn.

The export company involved, Co Meath-based Viastar, is actively seeking to agree new contracts for further exports to Turkey in 2017 as well as seeking export orders in neighbouring countries. It has already sent one boatload of bulls to Libya.

Feed for cattle on all the boats has been supplied by Kiernan Milling from Co Longford.