24 APRIL 2017

ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan has said the prospects for live exports to once again offer real competition to processors are improving. Tomorrow, under the direction of Purcell Brothers, a boat will be loaded at Belview Port in Waterford with approximately 3,000 bulls destined for Turkey. ICSA understands that all of these bulls are under 12 months of age and weigh between 220kgs and 330kgs.

Mr Phelan said “Prices paid for the bulls varied from between €2.10-€2.20 for Angus and Hereford and between €2.70 and €2.80 for continentals. Another two boats will leave in May, this time taking cattle up to 16 to 17 months so with the age profile rising we will hopefully see some real competition for the factories. Purcells were the mainstay for competition in the eighties and nineties so it’s good to see them back.”

Mr Phelan said “ICSA is pushing to develop new markets for live exports particularly for the 500kgs to 600kgs category to include Friesian cattle. This is the best strategy we have to give producers more options and to ease the stranglehold of the processors.”

ENDS