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Purcell Brothers will load a second consignment of 3,000 cattle for Turkey this week at Waterford Port.
The specialist livestock boat the Atlantic M arrived at Waterford on Monday. The firm has a batch of cattle now completing 21-day quarantine and ready for loading. Its agents continue to buy at marts for future shipments.
This will be the third shipment from Ireland to Turkey this year, with exporter John Hallissey having sent a consignment of breeding heifers there last month.
A boatload of heavy bulls is currently on route to Libya on behalf of exporter Patsy McCabe and due to arrive on Sunday.
Live exports to other EU member states continue to slow down as calf numbers fall off. Weanlings are being exported, but in very small numbers, and it will be some months before weanling supplies and exports pick up.
Exports surge
Total exports for the week ended 14 May were 4,616 head.
The biggest share – 3,584 head – were calves. Spain was the biggest destination, taking 2,000 head, with smaller numbers going to Holland and Italy.
To date this year Holland has taken 39,264 head and Spain has taken 34, 266 head. Italy has taken 10,087 head and, as with Holland and Spain, most of these have been calves.
Total live exports stand at 110,425, up by 40% on 2016 export numbers, to increase in the second half of the year.
“It is essential for competition that a strong and vibrant live-export trade is maintained through the summers,” says IFA livestock chair Angus Woods.
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