Cross-border sheep trade hit by EU tagging rules

NEW EU sheep tagging requirements are blamed for a huge slump in the cross-border sheep trade from Northern Ireland to the south.

The exports to sheepmeat processors in the south have virtually ceased this month, in sharp contrast to last year when the trade increased in June.

Having averaged 3,622 head per week in the five months to the end of May, sheep exports for direct slaughter in the south fell to only 211 in the second week of June.