Cattle exporters will fill three livestock boats with over 7,000 bulls in coming days and buying is continuing for boats in January. This is providing a support to the mart trade.

Cork firm Curzon loaded a consignment of up to 3,000 head on Wednesday and the boat was to depart for Libya early on Thursday morning.

Co Meath-based Viastar has a boat arriving at the weekend to be loaded with weanling bulls for Turkey. Purcell Brothers have a boat arriving at the end of next week for loading with 2,500 bulls for Libya. These will be mostly lighter Friesians for further feeding with some heavier beef breed bulls.

These deliveries will bring exports to Libya to around 13,000 head for 2019 and exports to Turkey to over 10,000 head.

Meanwhile, Curzon Livestock will now begin buying stock for its next order for Libya which is due to be loaded in the first week of January. It will consist of Friesian bulls of 300kg and Friesian bulls of 500kg.

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