2025 cattle export numbers approaching 250,000 head
2025 cattle export numbers to date are approaching 250,000 head, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
As of Sunday, May 25, a total of 247,000 cattle have been exported, which is an increase of 34,000 head of cattle or 16% on the same time last year.
76% of all cattle exports are calves, accounting for almost 188,000 head of total cattle exports.
The table below details cattle exports by type in the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025:
2023 2024 2025 2023/25 2024/25 Calves 178,395 165,836 187,985 +5% +13% Weanlings 13,486 12,926 21,196 +57% +64% Stores 8,984 14,965 14,896 +66% – Adult Cattle 14,018 19,405 23,117 +65% +19% Total 214,883 213,132 247,194 +15% +16% Source: DAFM
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.
There are 16 main countries to which Irish cattle have been exported to this year. Spain, The Netherlands and Northern Ireland are the three largest market destinations followed by Italy, Poland, and Croatia.
The table below details total Irish cattle export numbers by market destination for the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025:
Country 2023 2024 2025 2024/25 Spain 50,632 61,612 79,502 +29% The Netherlands 96,905 70,185 75,384 +7% Northern Ireland 20,053 21,188 27,899 +32% Italy 23,393 21,045 24,491 +16% Poland 10,369 10,992 20,296 +85% Croatia – 2,808 2,500 -11% Morocco – 7,322 2,302 -69% Great Britain 1,259 2,705 2,149 -21% Greece 770 1,607 1,989 +24% Algeria – 2,037 1,967 -3% Israel – 3,304 1,855 -44% Romania 1,859 4,691 1,479 -68% Hungary 3,047 2,601 1,117 -57% Portugal 239 – 1,063 – Tunisia 125 407 1,001 +146% Lithuania – – 907 – Other 6,232 628 1,293 +106% Total 214,883 213,132 247,194 +16% Source: DAFM
This year has seen a firm trade for cattle with Northern Ireland, with exports of Irish cattle across the border up 31% to just under 28,000 head to date this year.
Tighter supplies of cattle for slaughter and further feeding north of the border are some of the key factors understood to be attributing to the stronger export levels here this year.
The table below details Irish calf exports by market destination for the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024, and 2025:
Destination 2023 2024 2025 2024/25 The Netherlands 96,624 69,924 74,828 +7% Spain 45,665 55,782 65,701 +18% Poland 10,161 10,867 19,831 +82% Italy 17,760 15,251 15,476 +1% Northern Ireland 4,867 4,472 6,590 +47% Croatia – 2,478 1,970 -21% Romania 1,698 4,655 1,386 -70% Hungary 1,318 2,305 855 -63% Portugal – – 586 – Great Britain 2 1 486 – Lithuania – – 273 – Other 300 101 3 -97% Total 178,395 165,836 187,985 +13% Source: DAFM
Market sources have told Agriland there is a growing number of beef-sired calves from the dairy herd being exported in line with calf availability.
There is also a growing number of heifer calves being exported with 35,500 exported in the first 18 weeks of this year, up from the 16,300 heifer calves exported in the same time period last year.
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