The veal sector is in a “very difficult situation” and is expected to impact on demand for Irish calves in the spring of 2021, according to Bord Bia.
Speaking at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine yesterday (Tuesday, December 15), Padraig Brennan, meat, food and beverages director with Bord Bia, outlined the state of affairs in live exports at present.
“This year we’re on track to export about 260,000 animals.
Obviously our calf exports have been very negatively affected by the fall away in the veal sector in the Netherlands. That’s reflecting Covid-19 and the massive drop that we’ve seen in the food service sector.
“The majority of veal gets sold in that food service sector. Even allowing for that 260,000 animals this year; when you compare that to 2015 or 2016 that would have been about 150,000 animals per year. So there has been progress made,” Brennan said.
“There are challenges coming down the track for 2021; there’s no doubt about that because the veal sector is in a very difficult situation so that is going to impact on demand for Irish calves in the spring of 2021.”
In response to queries from independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice on where the funding from Bord Bia levies goes, Brennan pointed to the different methods of marketing to promote Irish live exports that the Irish food board undertakes:
Around trade missions for livestock exporters, we’ve had four of those trade missions in the last three years to livestock markets and that’s been a big focus on growing that. Inward buyer visits, that’s another thing on livestock trade, buyers want to see the animals, how they’re produced on farm.
“Over the last number of years we’ve had a series of inward buyer visits from six international markets as well as all of our major European markets being Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, etc.
“An area we’ve put more investment in is Africa; you’ll be aware of Algeria coming onboard as a new market for Irish livestock. We have a dedicated market expert on the ground, working for us in that region now; that’s an important one for us as we try to grow our trade in that region over the years to come.
“Another couple of areas then would be trade shows particularly in our main European markets.
Those livestock shows are really important for exporters and ourselves to engage with buyers or people who’ve bought from us in the past.
“Likewise then the whole area of advertising and promoting, because from a welfare point of view, and transport, it’s important that we’re able to demonstrate the quality and integrity of the systems in Ireland from a livestock point of view,” Brennan concluded.