Search for new beef buyers

NEARLY 15% of Ireland's total beef exports will be dislodged by the return of UK cattle aged over 30 months to the food chain, predicts the Meat and Livestock Commission in the UK.

However, the Irish beef industry's search for alternative market outlets was believed to be finding early success, even before the September 7 launch of Bord Bia's €10 million initiative to grow sales in 8,000 EU retail outlets.

Irish sales were already growing in Sweden, Finland and Denmark, and cow beef exports were increasing to France.