Over 160,000 cattle have been exported in the first 15 weeks of this year, according to the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

This figure is up 26% on the same time period of last year and up 16% from the same time period of 2023.

The largest volume of cattle exports is in the calf category, with over 114,600 calves exported as of Sunday, April 13.

The table below details cattle exports by type in the first 15 weeks of 2023, 2024, and 2025:

Weanling export numbers this year are at 16,700 head - up 72% on last year while store and adult cattle exports are at 10,300 and 18,700 head respectively.

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.

Spain has been the largest market destination for Irish cattle this year taking 50,700 head of cattle, followed by the Netherlands (43,700), Northern Ireland (21,200), Italy (16,400) and Poland (14,400) respectively.

Morocco and Algeria have purchased 2,300 and 2,000 Irish cattle to date this year respectively.

Also notable destinations are Croatia and Greece purchasing approximately 1,500 and 1,400 Irish cattle to date this year respectively.

Looking specifically at calf exports in the first 15 weeks this year, the largest volume of calves has gone to the Netherlands at just under 43,400 head, with Spanish customers purchasing 39,500 Irish calves to date.

Polish farmers have purchased 14,000 Irish calves to date this year, with 9,900 going to Italy and and almost 5,000 going to Northern Ireland.