A buyer from Kazakhstan is expected to arrive in Ireland early next month with the intention of purchasing up to 300 pedigree-registered Hereford heifers.

It is understood the buyer is seeking heifers aged 8-15 months and weighing no more than 360kg.

Prices for these heifers will likely range from €1,600-1,900, depending on the weight and quality.

Society members received a text from the Irish Hereford Breed Society (IHBS) informing them about the prospective customer's plans.

However the society also advised members that heifers from eight specific counties have been ruled "ineligible".

The text circulated to IHBS members and seen by Agriland, stated: "Due to bluetongue cases, the Kazakhstan government have placed restrictions on imports from the following counties:

Cork;
Kildare;
Laois;
Louth;
Monaghan;
Tipperary;
Wicklow;
Wexford.

"Unfortunately, cattle from these counties are ineligible," the text outlined to members.

Cattle exports

More than 270,000 head of Irish cattle have been exported to date this year, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

In the first 32 weeks of this year, or up to the week ending Sunday, August 9, a total of just over 273,500 cattle were exported from Ireland.

The largest majority of these were calves, with over 217,000 calves exported to mainland Europe and Northern Ireland.

The table below details Irish cattle export numbers by type for the first 32 weeks of 2024, 2025 and 2026:

Irish cattle export numbers recovered significantly after a slow start and are now on par with 2024 levels but down on last year's levels.

Overall 2025 was a record year for Irish cattle export numbers but while overall cattle export numbers are down on last year, calf export numbers are only down by 2%.