To highlight Ireland as a source for top quality livestock, the delegation met with key importers in Morocco and Algeria and visited their feedlots to witness the scale and potential of the enterprises.
Bord Ba worked closely with the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine in preparing the Ministerial led mission to identify buyers and limit technical barriers to trade. Exporters reacted positively to the new opportunities despite the obvious challenges of the market.
The five major Algerian importers source between 40,000 and 50,000 animals per year, mainly from France and Spain.
Bord Bia market indicators for Algeria point to a demand for animals of 500kgs to further fatten for a few months before slaughter. Heifer importations represent a smaller section of the market and are linked to private dairy farm projects that in most of the cases are long-term investments.
Bord Bia is very active in promoting Irish livestock, arranging inward buyer visits for potential customers, most recently from Russia, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and North Africa. In addition, Bord Bia canvasses live importers at industry trade fairs, most recently in Russia at VIV Moscow and in Italy at Fieragricola.
Bord Bia also promotes Ireland as a source of high quality animals through print and digital media to potential buyers and provides market insight to exporters through regular reports and an Annual Livestock Seminar.