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A total of 195,136 cattle were exported live up to the week ending 27 July, 40,018 head lower than the corresponding period in 2019.
There is significant variance between categories, with calves experiencing the greatest change. The number of calves exported is at 137,725 head, 52,215 head lower than in 2019.
The reduction has been driven primarily by the coronavirus pandemic disrupting normal trading channels, with sales of veal in the Netherlands particularly badly hit. This reduced the appetite of specialist finishers, with the net effect of volumes reducing by 34,453 head at 48,576 head. Numbers exported to Spain and Italy are also running 13.6% and 31.5% lower at 67,379 head and 16,825 head, respectively. Live exports to France have also been affected, with total numbers exported there reducing 4,159 head to 3,030.
In contrast, the number of animals exported live in the finished animal category is running 9,764 head higher at 26,303 head. This category includes animals exceeding 24 months of age. The increase has been underpinned by a sharp increase in the number of cattle moving north for direct slaughter, with exports to date recorded at 33,378 head. This represents an increase of 14,374 head on the corresponding period in 2019.
Meanwhile, there is no major change in live exports or weanlings and store cattle. The number of weanlings exported live is running at 14,766 head, an increase of 731 head or 5.2%, while live exports of stores, at 16,342 head, is 1,702 head or 11.6% higher.
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