Lebanese live cattle trade to be re-opened

IRISH cattle will be shipped to the Lebanon within the next two months, predicts IFA president John Bryan, as farmers bid to build on the boom in live exports, which are at their highest level in 15 years.

The on-the-hoof trade to north Africa and the Middle East, once financed by EU export refunds, is feasible again thanks to currency trends. This would bring an extra benefit for Ireland’s beef industry, because calves shipped to Holland for veal at three weeks old may instead end up being reared in Ireland for at least 20 months, before being shipped to north African markets.

John Bryan said IFA is also working to progress the sale of live cattle to Britain.

He challenged the Irish beef industry to find lucrative new markets, in order to keep more cattle for rearing or processing in Ireland, rather than for live export as calves or weanlings.

Meanwhile, live exports are the main source of confidence encouraging Irish beef cow farmers to maintain or increase production, said Bryan.