Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said there is "no evidence to suggest" that stocking limits under the Nitrates Directive had a greater impact on cattle availability then general economic factors.

The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from independent TD Carol Nolan.

Nolan had asked the minister for his views on the impact of "lagged live exports and nitrates derogation constraints" on national cattle availability in 2026, and the measures "planned to stabilise supply for Irish processors and farmers".

In response, Minister Heydon said: "Live cattle exports averaged 351,000 head annually over the last three years with typically 70% of these animals exported by the time that they are one-year old.

"However, there is no evidence to suggest that nitrate stocking limits had a greater impact on current cattle availability than other general economic factors affecting production decisions on individual farm enterprises," the minister said.

"While market dynamics influence beef production nationally and globally, I will continue to engage regularly with all supply chain actors to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector," he added.

Throughput decline

The minister noted that the latest data published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine shows that aggregate cattle throughput for the year to date has declined by 10% from the elevated levels recorded in the corresponding period in 2025.

"However, recent analysis suggests that domestic cattle availability will likely recover in the second half of the year and that the total kill for the year will be similar to last year’s slaughter level," according to the minister.

He also said that live calf registration data from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) indicates "a stabilisation of the national herd inventory", with a 1.6% increase in total calf registrations and a 2.8% increase in beef births recorded to date this year.

"Lower beef production is a feature of the UK and EU beef markets. In its outlook to 2035, the [European] Commission projected that EU production is set to continue contracting and UK trends point to lower beef production in the medium term," Minister Heydon said.

The minister also said that Bord Bia, in conjunction with the meat industry, is examining consumer demand for all beef cuts in the domestic and export markets and "will consider how best to reinforce the competitive position of Irish beef through targeted marketing and promotion activities and campaigns".