18th November, 2013

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) president Gabriel Gilmartin has said that there will be knock on repercussions for the live trade from the appointment of a receiver to TLT International. “Unless there are other exporters to fill the gap, there must be concern that there could be a reduction in the frequency of shipping. Certainly the loss of any significant live export customer will be unwelcome for the current operator of the main shipping route from Rosslare.”

Mr Gilmartin also expressed concern that the Italian trade was a vital outlet for top of the range U+ type weanlings and that suckler farmers who have targeted this market will be concerned about who will buy these weanlings in 2014. “Farmers are currently calving cows where the offspring are ideally suited to the export market. Their system of farming is certainly at risk unless other exporters can take up the slack. However, the question then arises as to who will fund this, given that HSBC are effectively withdrawing their credit facilities from the live export trade.”