Irish cattle exports to date this year have surpassed 350,000 head in what has been the highest recorded level in recent times, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
As of Sunday, November 17, just over 351,000 cattle had been exported from Ireland, which marks an increase of 13% on last year and 30% on 2022 levels.
A firm international demand for Irish cattle combined with growing demand from key EU markets has helped underpin the trade to date this year.
The table below gives an overview of cattle exports by type in the first 46 weeks of 2022, 2023 and 2024:
For the purpose of the above table, calves are classified as cattle under six-weeks-of-age, weanlings are all cattle from six-weeks-of-age to six-months-of-age, store cattle are all cattle from six-months-of-age to 24-months-of-age, and adult cattle are all cattle from 24-months-of-age and older.
As the table indicates, calf export numbers are down 4% on this time last year but remain over 17% above 2023 levels. The peak calf export months are in the first half of the year but smaller numbers of calves continue to exit the country each week.
Weanling, store and adult cattle export numbers are all up significantly with over 55,500 weanlings exported to date this year, up by over 21,000 head on the same time period of last year.
The table below gives an overview of Irish cattle exports by destination in the first 46 weeks of 2022, 2023 and 2024:
As the table above indicates, Spain has taken the largest volume of Irish cattle this year, up 41% and overtaking the Netherlands as the largest customer for Irish cattle.
These two market destinations are predominantly for calves however changing regulations in the Netherlands will see Irish calf exports to the country phased out over the next two years.
There is also a significant rise in the number of cattle going to Morocco which has increased by almost 20,000 head to date this year.
Current market indications suggest continued strong demand for weanlings, stores and adult cattle into the short term at least.