August 28, 2009
Great potential for Irish live cattle exports to Britain
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) claimed that there was a major potential for live cattle exports to Britain.
The live trade was very active this year with about 200,000 cattle exported to date, Livestock Committee chairman Michael Doran said.
Exports of live cattle to Britain had already commenced with more than 4,000 head shipped to date, and more than 46,000 head of livestock had been exported to the North, Doran said.
Cattle feeders in Britain wanted Irish weanlings and store cattle, he said.
The economics of exporting live cattle to Britain are right with cattle prices there EUR100 (US$143.4) to EUR150 (US$215.2) above Irish levels, he added.
Meanwhile, Meat Industry Ireland has warned that the increasing level of live exports could put processing plants and jobs at risk.
US$1 = EUR0.7 (Aug 28)
