Calf exports are expected to fall by close to 10% this year to around 200,000 head, industry sources have predicted.

A total of 223,000 calves were exported in 2025, which was an increase of 12% on the figure for 2024.

However, Bord Bia’s Seamus McMenamin said tighter numbers this spring would result in fewer calves being available for export in 2026.

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Increased usage of sexed semen in the dairy herd is expected to further reduce the availability of calves for export, the Bord Bia executive added.

The latest figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) show that the number of calf registrations from the dairy herd fell by 30,000 head in 2025, dropping from 1.6 million to 1.58 million, and is expect to reduce again in 2026.

In addition, the number of calf registrations from the beef herd in 2025 fell by 24,000 head.

McMenamin insisted that there was still “good demand” for Irish calves on the continent.

However, he pointed out that European calf supplies had increased in the back-end of 2025 as many cows that failed to go in calf for last spring due to bluetongue came in calf for autumn.

This increased supply knocked the edge off calf and weanling prices in some European export markets, McMenamin explained.

Weanlings

In terms of weanling exports, McMenamin predicted that the numbers shipped in 2026 will be back marginally on 2025 as a consequence of the contraction in the beef herd.

In 2025 the number of weanlings shipped dropped by 28% to just over 47,000 head. This was back 18,500 head on the almost 66,000 weanlings export in 2024.

The continued drop in the beef herd is confirmed by the latest ICBF figures which show that the number of calf registrations to beef cows dropped from 708,000 in 2024 to 684,000 in 2025.

The sharp increase in domestic weanling prices also meant that Irish exporters were facing stiff competition from cheaper South American cattle in regions such as North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, there was a strong trade for the 153 calves and runners on offer in Bandon Mart this week.

Farmers and agents did the bulk of buying, according to mart manager Seán Dennehy, although there was some shipper activity.

Three-week-old and four-week-old Friesian cross bulls – weighing around 75kg – were making around €300 per head.

Dennehy said a premium was paid for calves that were closer to six weeks old and almost weaned.

Friesian bulls and Friesian crosses in this category – which weighed 95-98kg – were making €480-520 per head.

A premium was also paid for continentals and other beef breeds, with three Charolais bulls (98kg) making €790 per head.

Four Angus bulls (88kg) sold for €645 a head, while two Herefords (90kg) made €595 a head.

Heifer calves in the 70-80kg weight bracket generally made from €400 to €500 a head.