Over 25,500 head of cattle have been exported in the first seven weeks of 2025, according to the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The overall cattle export numbers in the first seven weeks of this year are up 31% on the same time of last year.

Despite this, calf export numbers to date this year are down 9%, with just over 5,700 calves sold to other countries to date this year.

The largest increase has been seen in weanling exports with almost 8,500 weanlings sold to customers outside Ireland to date this year, up 79% on the 4,700 head sold abroad in the same time period of last year.

The table below details cattle exports by type in the first seven weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025:

The largest export market destination for Irish cattle to date this year has been Spain, with almost 9,600 head of cattle sold to the country, an increase of 140% from the 4,000 cattle exported to Spain in the first seven weeks of 2024.

Northern Ireland has been the second-largest market destination, with 6,300 head of cattle gone north to date this year, up 34%.

A total of 3,600 cattle have been exported to Italy and almost 2,000 cattle have been exported to Algeria, with 1,850 cattle going to Israel - down 44% on the same time last year.

Just over 5,700 calves have been sold outside the country this year, which is down 9% on last year and 56% on 2023 levels.

The largest market destination for Irish calves to date this year has been Spain with 2,945 Irish calves bought by customers from the country to date.

Italy, the Netherlands and Northern Ireland have been the second, third and fourth largest market destinations to date with 866, 595, and 184 calves exported to these regions respectively.

Market sources have said there is firm demand for Irish calves from several key markets, with positive feedback on the health and quality of Irish calves from customers across existing and newly-established European markets.