This is according to one mart manager as the industry begins to analyse what Brexit could mean for the Irish cattle sector. While it will take time to see the wider effects that the decision to leave the EU will have on live trade, the anticipation is that there will be a lead-in period that will help take the volatility and uncertainty out of the live trade market.

Live trade

“It is difficult to know what will happen, it could take weeks or months before we know what way things are going to go (with the live trade),” according to Donegal Mart manager Eimear McGuinness. “It will give uncertainty to buyers, but it could be a positive in the long run – nobody really knows.”

Helen Kells, manager of Carrigallen Mart, does not believe that it will have an immediate effect. “The effects that it will have won’t really be seen until it comes to weanling sales later in the year. It won’t help prices as you would have to believe that there will be less northern buyers around the ring.”

Many of the mart managers interviewed by the Irish Farmers Journal highlighted that there has been a reduction in the number of Northern Irish buyers active around the ring over the last 12 months, due to labelling issues with cattle purchased in the Republic of Ireland and slaughtered in the UK. The anticipation is that this reduced number of buyers over the past 12 months might soften the potential effects that Brexit will have on live trade to the UK.

Opportunity

“The opportunity for Turkey has to be looked at,” according to a mart manager in the west. “Now is the time to ensure a continued access to the continental market and to get the cattle that are ready to go to Turkey gone.”

“The real hope is that beef factories don’t use this as an unfounded reason to reduce prices and that farmers do not feel an immediate impact.”