Green light for shipment of 1,200 cattle to Algeria

Margaret Donnelly and Declan O’Brien

THE TECHNICAL difficulties which delayed the shipment of 1,200 cattle to Algeria have been resolved and the vessel is due to sail at the end of the week.

The livestock carrier Sarah M has been anchored in Waterford Estuary for the last week, but is now cleared to head for Algeria.

Stalemate had developed between the Department of Agriculture and the exporter,

Roundwood Park Livestock Ltd, regarding health certificate requirements for the shipment.

The impasse came to a head during the week when the shipping company, faced with massive berthing charges, made the decision to ship the cattle out of France rather than Ireland.

However, the difficulties have now been resolved and the 1,200 heavy bulls and bullocks will leave for North Africa later this week.

Confirmation that the Sarah M will sail was welcomed by Éamon

Corley (pictured) of Emerald Isle Beef Producers, who supplied 600 cattle for the last shipment to Algeria.

“The loss of this contract to ship 13,000 finished bulls and steers from Ireland to Algeria would have been a damaging blow to competition for finished cattle in Ireland,” Mr Corely said.

“I would like to thank

Dr Ahmed Salman [of Roundwood Park], Minister Creed, and the various politicians who intervened and collectively came up with a workable accommodation to facilitate the shipment,” he added.

Payment terms

Mr Corley said payment terms for the next Algeria shipment have also been sorted out, with the farmers to be paid by bank transfer after cattle cross the scales at New Ross Mart. “Farmers now need to pull together and support this shipment and make sure enough cattle are supplied to fill it,” he said.

“In a couple of months time when age and weight penalties are back in force in all factories this ship will be valuable competition.”

Emerald Isle are now taking bookings and are looking for U and R grade factory fit bulls of 16-30 months or heavy steers up to 34 months. The contract is for continental, Hereford and Angus cattle.