In the first nine months of this year, the Irish cattle trade was able to export 48 701 calves to the Netherlands. That’s 41.4% less than in the same period last year, reports export service Bord Bia.
In the last week of August no calves were traded to the Netherlands, while in the same week there were 61 in 2019. Exports to the other major customer of Irish calves, Spain, decreased by 9,6% over nine months. Spain, with 74,261 Irish calves, has now largely passed the Netherlands as the largest customer, while in previous years our country was most often at the top of the list.
Ireland has also exported 18 840 calves to Italy during this period, which is a 30% drop compared to last year. Exports to France fell by 58% to 3,072 animals. However, with 4.110 animals, Belgium took 38% more of the Irish, although no Irish calf has been shipped to Belgium in recent weeks.