Cattle exporters are waiting to see what happens next in Turkey on currency and the country’s political dispute with the US. The sudden weakening of the lira and resulting interruption to cattle exports is causing problems for them as well as for farmers.

A number have been left holding on to cattle which they bought for the Turkish market. These cattle must be fed, putting extra cost on the exporter while young cattle may go overage or overweight.

The cattle exported from Waterford Port last week had been scheduled for earlier export to Turkey. Another exporter has 800 young bulls on hand and is facing a delay in loading them. He has resold some at marts, will export some to Libya and feed the remainder until he can ship them to Turkey.

Exporters are hopeful that Turkish buyers will resume buying this autumn. “They have to eat and they don’t have stock,” one said.

Exports to Turkey until mid-August totalled just under 10,000 head compared with over 12,000 at the same time last year. Exports of cattle from South America to Turkey have also been interrupted by the currency problems.