The latest export figures have shown the total number of cattle exported from Ireland has increased by over 12,000 head when compared to figures from the same time period last year.
The number of store and adult cattle exported has decreased, but the number of calves and weanlings exported has increased.
Calf export capacity had suffered a setback on Tuesday, March 29, when the Stena Horizon vessel entered dry dock for a routine service. As of Tuesday, April 26, the vessel remains in dry dock and will resume sailing on Saturday (April 30) at the earliest.
Cattle exports by type for the past three years, up to and including the week ending April 17:
By category 2020 2021 2022 Calves: 92,833 86,969 102,873 Weanlings: 8,456 7,328 8,014 Stores: 6,762 8,908 7,677 Adult cattle: 10,912 15,574 12,368 Total cattle: 118,963 118,779 130,932
An increase in the number of cattle exported is generally seen as positive news by beef farmers, as it reduces the amount of cattle available in the system which helps to shift the supply/demand dynamic more in favour of the beef farmer.
The large volume of calves exported to date this year are primarily dairy-bred male calves destined for veal production in countries in mainland Europe.
Cattle exports by destination up to and including the week ending April 17:
Country 2020 2021 2022 Netherlands 47,339 31,144 63,013 Spain 32,051 39,317 32,872 Northern Ireland 11,878 26,695 14,407 Italy 6,770 11,971 9,687 Libya 5,569 3,032 5,051 Poland 2,447 958 1,822 Jordan – – 1,601 Great Britain 1,715 837 911 Greece 908 682 791 Belgium 3,927 1,425 572 Morocco – – 111 France 2,927 2,480 44 Other 3,432 238 50 Total 118,963 118,779 130,932
As the table above indicates, the Netherlands has taken the largest number of Irish bovine livestock to date this year (on a per head basis) .
Customers in the Netherlands buy mainly calves and, as the table above indicates, the number of cattle traded to the country has more than doubled in the first 14 weeks of this year compared to the same time period last year.
However, the number of livestock exported to Northern Ireland has fallen considerably.
One of the major talking points last year was the strong demand for forward and finished cattle from Northern Ireland, however in the first 14 weeks of this year, the number of cattle exported north has fallen by over 12,000 head.