The Dutch market will effectively be closed to Irish calves after 2025 with the implementation of the Dutch ‘Veal Forward Plan’, Bord Bia has said.

It said that proposed changes to EU transport legislation around journey times, feeding intervals, age at transport and space allowances will also impact the longer-term future of the unweaned calf trade.

However, it said that the short-term outlook for calf exports in 2025 “remains fairly positive”, with firm forward demand from customers in key markets including Spain, Italy, central and eastern Europe.

“The outlook for older categories of cattle also remains positive in the short term, with strong demand from international markets, Northern Ireland and mainland Europe,” it added.

Just under 200,000 Irish calves were traded with customers in Europe this year, despite a slow start to the year due to some weather-related disruptions.

Spain, Italy and the Netherlands continued to be key markets for Irish calves, while there was also growing demand from markets in central and eastern Europe.

Bord Bia has said that the spread of bluetongue across continental Europe has created opportunities for older categories of Irish cattle in established European markets.

“In addition, some political disruptions to the trading of live animals between Europe and third countries led to a growing demand for Irish weanling and store cattle in international markets.

“North Africa, and Morocco in particular, saw a significant uplift in trade during 2024,” it said.