Cattle exports from Ireland to other countries have reached almost 225,000 (223,962) head as of Sunday, May 11, 2025, according to the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The number of cattle exported in the first 19 weeks of the year has increased by almost 37,000 head (36,694) or 20% on the same period last year.

While the largest percentage increase in export numbers has been in the weanling category, with a 72% (8,260 head) increase, the largest increase in export numbers came from the calf category with a rise of 21,740 head.

The table below details cattle exports by type and the percentage increase in export numbers for the first 19 weeks of 2023, 2024, and 2025:

For the purpose of the table above, calves are classified as all cattle under six-weeks-of-age, weanlings are all cattle from six-weeks-of-age to six-months-of-age, store cattle are all cattle from six-months-of-age to 24-months-of-age, and adult cattle are all cattle from 24-months-of-age upwards.

Store cattle exports are up by approximately 2,100 head and adult cattle exports are up by 4,500 head during the same period.

The Netherlands remains the largest export market destination for Irish calves, with 66,700 calves sold to farmers in the region since the beginning of this year.

This is an increase on the same period last year when approximately 62,900 calves had been exported to the country.

However, the Dutch Veal Forward plan is expected to have a significant impact on Irish calf exports to the region from January 2026.

The table below details Irish calf export numbers by market destination for the first 19 weeks of 2023, 2024, and 2025:

As can be seen in the table above, Spain is the second-largest market destination for Irish calves again this year, followed by Poland, Italy, and Northern Ireland respectively.