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Cattle exports are to get a major push next week when Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed leads a trade delegation to Turkey. He will be accompanied by a number of live exporters and will meet with the Turkish agriculture minister and senior Turkish officials.
A Bord Bia team led by boss Tara McCarthy will take part in the trip which will also promote exports of Irish meat, dairy and other food products. McCarthy has confirmed that the Irish delegation would travel from next Wednesday.
Ireland exported 30,000 head of cattle to Turkey in 2017, including high-quality breeding heifers which that country is keen to use to increase its own national cattle herd. The first such boat load of 2018 is due to be loaded with breeding heifers in Waterford port this week, by Quinn Livestock International, and then sail for Turkey.
However, exports of young bulls to Turkey for further feeding have quietened and the major exporters have no contracts operating at the moment. In contrast, Turkey is importing high numbers of cattle from South America.
One exporter told the Irish Farmers Journal that currency movements have made cattle from Brazil and other South American markets relatively more attractive than heretofore, despite the lengthy journey time and high transport costs.
Turkey has a growing population and a requirement to import significant volumes of meat and livestock.
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