Live cattle exports are running at 118,779 head to date this year, a positive trade highlighted by Bord Bia’s livestock manager Joe Burke at its beef farmers’ webinar. The figure is almost identical to the same period last year.

While the number of calves exported live had been under pressure earlier in spring, running as much as 10% behind 2020 levels by late March, strong performance in recent weeks has seen this reduced to just 4.2% behind 2020 levels, based on the week ending 24 April 2021.

This is despite a significant reduction in calf exports to the Netherlands, the main destination for Irish calves in recent years.

To date, figures show a total of 31,144 calves exported to the Netherlands. That’s down 16,195, or 34%, on the same point last year.

A poorly performing veal market in 2020, hit by the closure of the restaurant trade due to COVID-19, has left veal farmers in the Netherlands slow to return to the market for calves this year. However, stronger demand from countries such as Spain (39,317, +23%), Italy (11,971, +77%), and Northern Ireland (26,695, +125%) has helped minimise any impact on export numbers.

Last weekend, six Teagasc dairy researchers went on a ferry to Cherbourg as part of a study trial looking at welfare concerns for exported calves. COVID-19 restrictions delayed the work until now.

The researchers were monitoring welfare measurements on calves that travelled from Ireland to France on the ferry. The study is part of Project Moove, initiated in 2021.

Northern Ireland

Much of the increase in export numbers to Northern Ireland has been in the form of short keep or finished cattle moving for direct slaughter.

Tightening of supplies in the UK of finished animals, combined with a favourable exchange rate, boosted this market in recent months.

Burke remarked that this, along with strong calf exports in 2019, and a reduction in the number of male cattle to be slaughtered as young bulls this year, means finished cattle supplies in Ireland are expected to decline by up to 120,000 head in 2021.