Over 70k cattle exported in the first 10 weeks of this year
Over 70,000 head of cattle have been exported in the first 10 weeks of this year, according to the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The total number of Irish cattle exports as of Sunday, March 9, is up 32% or 16,900 head with increases seen in calf, weanling, store, and adult cattle exports.
The number of calves exported to date stands at 37,500 head up 18% on 2024 levels but down 36% on the 58,700 head of calves exported in the first 10 weeks of 2023.
18,500 calves were shipped overseas in the week ending Sunday, March 9, the highest weekly export in the past decade.
The table below details exports by cattle type for the first 10 weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025:
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2023/25 | 2024/25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calves: | 58,723 | 31,901 | 37,523 | -36% | +18% |
| Weanlings: | 7,970 | 6,943 | 12,603 | +62% | +82% |
| Stores: | 2,645 | 4,705 | 6,115 | +131% | +30% |
| Adult cattle: | 6,266 | 9,630 | 13,840 | +121% | +44% |
| Total: | 75,424 | 53,179 | 70,081 | -7% | +32% |
Spain has been the largest market destination for Irish calves this year, with just under 11,400 Irish calves bought by Spanish customers to date.
The Netherlands, Italy, and Poland are the third, fourth, and fifth largest overseas customers for Irish calves with 10,800, 4,100, and 3,300 calves going to each of these countries respectively.
Northern Ireland is the fifth-largest export market destination for calves buying almost 1,400 Irish calves to date this year. It is the second-largest export destination for Irish cattle overall with north customers buying almost 12,000 Irish cattle so far this year.
The significance of the Dutch market to Irish calves has declined in recent years from 34,500 calves sold to the Netherlands in the first 10 weeks of 2023 to 10,800 in the same time period this year.
Recent developments in the Dutch market may well limit Irish calf exports to the destination after this year.
