ICOS warn against North cattle embargo

REPORTS that beef processors in the Six Counties are refusing to slaughter cattle raised in the South and exported to the North were described as extremely worrying yesterday.

ICOS National Marts Committee acting chairman Tom Doyle said this would serve to undermine cattle prices during the critical autumn sales period in livestock marts.

Traditionally, up to 20,000 weanlings and forward stores have been exported to the North in the last quarter of the year and northern dealers are normally strong buyers in livestock marts all over the country, particularly in western and border counties.