Live exports in 2015 to date are just under 174,000 while imports stand at just over 15,000.

The main destinations for live bovines in 2015 were the UK, Netherlands, Italy and France.

Exports

While the official number of exports for 2015 has yet to be finalised but in 2014 they closed at just under 240,000, 30,000 more than 2013.

Export figures have been rising since 2012 when they stood at 162,000 for the year.

Imports

The number of live imports have fallen since 2011. They rose from 22,400 in 2011 by 1,000 to 23,500 in 2012. Since then they fell to 11,500 in 2014. However, so far in 2015 they are up on last years figures at 15,166.

The figures come in response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Mattie McGrath to Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, querying the number of live imports and exports from 2011 to date.