Live shipment of factory-fit bulls and steers to Algeria postponed

A PLANNED shipment of cattle to Algeria, due to sail this Friday, has been postponed, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday.

Officials from the Department met with the exporter on Saturday, at which time the processes and protocols necessary to enable the shipment to proceed were agreed.

However, it’s understood the exporter went back to the Department yesterday indicating that the shipment would not proceed as it was not possible for him to have a sufficient quantity of compliant animals assembled by then.

Emerald Isle Beef Producers, the purchasing group founded by Éamon Corley of the Beef

Plan Movement, was reported to be sourcing factory-fit bulls and steers for what would have been the second shipment of stock by Roundwood Livestock to Algeria.

Their previous shipment three weeks ago saw 1,080 heavy bulls and bullocks heading to North Africa. Reported delays in some payments at that time did cause concern among suppliers, but it is now understood that all outstanding accounts have been fully credited.

The shipment due to depart next Friday was looking for 1,100-1,200 heavy cattle.

Third countries

In a statement, the Department said it has been working hard in developing the livestock trade with Algeria. These efforts included a trade visit to the country in February 2020.

Live export trade opportunities now exist with several third countries including Libya, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Since the beginning of this year, 9,763 animals were exported to Third-Country markets.