Two shipments of Irish cattle will be loaded next week for Turkey. Purcell Brothers are expected to load over 3,000 bull weanlings midweek at Waterford. These cattle will be distributed among Turkish farmers by the state-owned buying agency for further rearing.

The firm’s contract with the Turkish Meat and Milk Commission is for 20,000 head, so there remains a further number of shipments to be sent over.

Exporter John Hallissey will also load some 3,000 heifers for the Turkish market. These cattle have been bought by private livestock importers and will be sold on to their local farmer customers for breeding. This is the second boatload that Hallissey will have delivered. The first went from Waterford Port in April. The load consists of Limousin, Charolais and other beef breeds.

Both shipments will be loaded under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture and officials from Turkey.

Egypt talks

Meanwhile, James Horgan of Curzon Livestock was in Cairo last week for discussions on possible export of Irish cattle to Egypt. Exchange rates for the Egyptian pound are difficult at the moment, but there is demand for livestock and finance for imports, he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

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