It’s going be a busy January for live exports with Viastar, one of Ireland’s largest live exporters, due to load over 5,000 weanlings.

Meanwhile, Mullingar-based live exporter David Clarke will also load a consignment of in-calf Friesian heifers along with some weanlings at the end of this week.

The news of the two shipments comes as Viastar secured a new contract for 4,000 weanlings for North Africa this week.

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The company has said it will start purchasing animals for this contract in February with hopes of further orders coming in during spring 2026. Some 2,000 continental bulls ranging in weight from 250 to 500kg are required for the job, along with 1,500 Friesian bulls and bullocks.

The load will be filled out with about 500 Aberdeen Angus bulls. Price is negotiable with €5/kg being mentioned for continental bull weanlings and €3.50/kg being paid for Friesians.

Live exports of weanlings finished the year down 28% in 2025 compared with 2024 figures on the back of reduced demand across some of our key markets. An increase in the price of Irish weanlings during 2025 also impacted some markets.