Calf exports continue their strong performance with the latest Department of Agriculture records showing 10,642 calves exported in the week ending 26 March 2018. This follows three weeks of buoyant exports where numbers leaving the country exceeded 11,000 head and brings total exports for the year to date to 66,807 head.

The Netherlands and Spain remain the primary destination for exports. However, the figure of 28,112 calves exported to Netherlands is running slightly behind the same period in 2017, which had an equivalent figure of 30,069. Exports to Spain on the other hand, at 25,034 head, are running 4,500 above 2017 levels.

Jump in exports

Belgium is another destination which has recorded a significant jump in exports with volumes close to doubling from 4,436 in 2017 to 8,154 so far this year. Numbers travelling to France have increased from 906 calves for the corresponding period in 2017 to 3,596 in 2018. Live calf exports of 1,586 head to Italy and 230 head to Northern Ireland are holding steady.

Live export activity has reduced slightly on the back of a drop-off in Friesian births. This is helping to keep a floor under prices with export quality calves selling from €60 to €80 for lighter calves and up to €100 to €110 for stronger calves. Some export operators have also started to purchase Angus calves and as has been the case for Friesians, demand is for mid-range calves with exporters steering away from light calves born to heifers or crossbred cows while farmers are driving the trade for good-quality calves.