Uruguay still ships most live cattle to Turkey
02/08/2011
The US Department of Agriculture has reported that, owing to increases in meat prices, the Turkish government wants to increase the number of live cattle it imports for slaughter in Turkish abattoirs.
Last year, Uruguay exported 69,351 head of cattle to Turkey and maintained its momentum in the first half of 2011, shipping 45,543 head in the first five months of this year. Australia exported just over 7,000 head of cattle in the whole of 2010, but this increased to 37,639 in the first five months of 2011.
Uruguay and Australia are countries whose animal health records allow them to ship younger cattle for fattening in Turkish feedlots before slaughter, whereas other exporters, such as Brazil, are only allowed to ship stock that is ready to go straight to the abattoir.
USDA’s report suggests buying animals to put into Turkish feedlots will prove attractive to the government in Ankara.
Share this story:
