Irish Cattle Exports Lift in Volume and Earnings
IRELAND – Ireland’s live cattle exports leapt 13 per cent last year, increasing by 28,000 head, largely thanks to recovery in continental markets and strong UK buying.
27 January 2015
1 minute read
Finished cattle increased by the greatest margin, Irish Food Board Bord Bia states, up 24 per cent, with stores second, up 16 per cent.
Calf shipments were 12 per cent higher, although a small contraction was recorded for weanlings.
UK shipments lifted 11 per cent overall, with 61 per cent more cattle going to Great Britain.
Shipments lifted to Italy, up 15 per cent, and Spain, up 20 per cent, despite economic turmoil and cautious demand. Bord Bia analysts assigned the increase to confidence in the intensive feedlot sectors as feed costs lowered.
Further afield, larger quantities reached Morocco, Libya and Tunisia on the back of stronger weanling and store demand.
Summarising Ireland’s outlook for 2015, Bord Bia said: “The overall outlook is positive, with demand for livestock forecast to be good, particularly in countries with veal markets, traditional markets such as Spain, and non EU markets.”
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