Following the disruption of the live animal trade by animal welfare activists in Britain this week, a farm leader here has warned that any disruption to the live export trade to Europe could be very damaging to prices here.
The most recent incident involving the live trade came overnight when a harbour master in Northumberland claimed yesterday he had been threatened by animal rights activists who were seeking to block the trade through Berwick Upon Tweed.
A shipment of live sheep from Scotland had passed through the port last week and a further 1,700 animals were to leave there this week.
However, as a police investigation was being launched, the second shipment of sheep to Rotterdam had been halted.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said an animal rights organisation contacted the port authorities and warned them of "some sort of response" if the live exports went ahead.
"We are taking it seriously and investigating," she said.
Mr Derek Deane, chairman of the Irish Farmers' Association's livestock committee, expressed concern at the report that exports from an east coast port in Britain had been stopped.
"Any such interference with the live trade could have a serious impact on operations here because presently we are exporting 5,000 animals a week," he said.
Mr Deane said there was an expectation that up to 20,000 live animals would be exported before the end of the year and any interference with this trade could affect cattle prices.
Most Irish live animals are exported through Britain's east coast ports to the Continent.