The number of approved livestock boats available to exporters for carrying cattle to Turkey, Libya and other non-EU markets is expanding.

Last weekend, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine inspected the Shorthorn Express, at Waterford, and gave it approval, bringing to three the number of boats approved.

The boat has now been loaded with young Irish bulls by exporters Purcell Brothers and is en route to Turkey.

Next, another boat, the North Star, is due to arrive at Greenore Port at the weekend, where it will be inspected by Department of Agriculture officials.

If approved, it will bring to four the number of boats available and it will be loaded with up to 3,000 young bulls for Turkey, by Co Meath-based exporter Viastar.

Co Cork exporter Curzon Livestock will load a boat of feeder weight bulls for Libya in the last week of this month, at Cork Port.

Kazakhstan

Over 1,000 pedigree Angus heifers have been exported in the last three months by JH Livestock Exports.

A 300-strong consignment of Aberdeen Angus heifers heading to Kazakhstan this week is one of the biggest shipments of pedigree stock to leave Ireland in the last decade.

The heifers were sourced throughout Ireland from hundreds of breeders.

The heifers began their 10-day journey from Askeaton in Co Limerick to Kazakhstan, travelling through Poland.

This is the first time John Hallissey of JH Livestock Exports has ever exported pedigree stock and he is currently looking for more heifers at the moment.

He is also in the process of procuring pedigree whitehead heifers for another contract.