IFA Welcomes First Live Export Shipment to Turkey Next Week

IFA President Joe Healy has said the first shipment of live cattle to Turkey is expected to depart early next week. He described this as a very positive development for the livestock sector and comes after a long hard campaign by IFA to open the Turkish market.

He said there is great potential in the Turkish live export market and he is hopeful that this shipment will be followed by many future shipments.

The IFA President said Turkey is a major opportunity for the Irish livestock sector and has an import requirement for up to 400,000 head of live cattle annually. In 2015 Turkey imported 380,000 head of cattle, the majority from South America and up to 120,000 from France.

Joe Healy said IFA pushed hard to get the market open and has been working with exporters and the Department of Agriculture to facilitate the trade, “A strong live trade is essential to maximising competition and to put a solid floor under weanlings this back end.”