Figures released by the Department of Agriculture show an almost 30% increase in the number of live exports in 2017 compared with the previous year.
In total, 189,889 cattle were exported from Ireland, which marked a 29% increase. The trade was driven by a 37% increase in exports to Spain and a 58% increase to Turkey.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has committed to opening and expanding export markets for Irish animals and produce, at a time when the threat of Brexit looms large over existing exports.
Minister Creed travelled to Turkey last week in a bid to further encourage live exports to the country, announcing that buying would be open to private bidders in 2018.
At the time, the minister said: “Being able to sell fattening cattle direct to private buyers will open up valuable new opportunities for trade.
"I am confident that there are significant opportunities to grow this trade further," he added.
It is hoped the decision will further increase exports to what is now Ireland’s third biggest live export market.
Calf boat
Last year’s trade was also driven by a 58% increase in live exports to The Netherlands, with 30,568 animals exported in 2017. The trade was based largely on the live export of calves during the spring-calving season.
However, fears are mounting that calf exports will suffer in 2018 as the Department continues to search for a ferry to conduct live exports this year, as the usual calf boat, the Stena Horizon, is withdrawn for servicing.
The Department has remained hopeful that a boat will be found, but has come under criticism from Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill.
“This is already a very narrow window for such a large quantity of animals to be transported to the continent. Even without the loss of a major ferry, it is a difficult endeavour,” Cahill said.
“I have been informed that as of now there are no plans to source a replacement this year.”
Decreases
There were also a number of decreases in live exports to France and Britain. While the number of these exports is comparatively small, there was a drop of 53% of live exports to France and 13% to Britain.
In total, Ireland only exported 2,778 animals to France and 5,789 animals to Britain in 2017.