The total number of live weanling exports have dropped by 8,100 from January 1 to October 17, figures from the Department of Agriculture show.

These figures indicate that total live exports of these animals have dropped by 33%, however despite this drop it is not as severe as the drop experienced up to September 12, when 46% less weanlings were exported.

These figures from the Department of Agriculture and presented by Bord Bia also indicate that the total number of store cattle exports have also dropped by 53.7% or 19,391 head.

There has also been a substantial drop in finished cattle exports, with 39,507 of these animals exported to October 17, which represents a drop of 16.3% or 7,690 on the same period last year.

Total live cattle exports have also dropped by 24.5% which equates to 51,311 less cattle to October 17, this year, it says.

animal exports bord bia

Live Exports to Continental Europe

According to these figures from the Department of Agriculture, total live cattle exports to continental Europe have dropped by 35,149 head or 25.5%.

The largest drops have occurred in Spain (15,325), Italy (6,934) and Belgium (21,017), while live cattle exports to Britain have also dropped by 6,264 head or 44.6%.

However, despite the fall of live cattle exports to continental Europe, increases have been recorded in both Northern Ireland and France.

Live cattle exports to Northern Ireland have increased by 6.6% or 2,689 head, while exports to France have increased by 3,161 head or 59.7%.

Source: Bord Bia

Source: Bord Bia

Total Non-EU Live Cattle Exports

Total live cattle exports to non-EU markets have dropped by 76.8% (12,549), these figures show.

The cessation of Irish exports to Libya, as a result of political turmoil is for the most part to blame for this fall in exports.

According to the Department of Agriculture, 433 Irish cattle made it to the Middle Eastern state in 2015, this fell from 12,908 in 2014.

Exports to the Lebanon have fallen by 68 head, while exports to Tunisia have increased by 146 to reach 3,029 head.