2026 Irish calf exports surpass 110,000 head to date - down 15%
Over 110,000 calves have been exported from Ireland in the first 16 weeks of 2026, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
Irish calf export numbers to date this year are 20,000 head or 15% below 2025 levels and up 1% on 2024 levels.
Total Irish cattle exports to date this year are just over 144,000 head, down 20% on this time last year and on par with 2024 levels.
The table below details Irish cattle exports by type for the first 16 weeks of 2024, 2025, and 2026:
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2024/26 | 2025/26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calves: | 110,200 | 130,959 | 110,908 | 1% | -15% |
| Weanlings: | 9,979 | 17,435 | 12,278 | 23% | -30% |
| Stores: | 9,715 | 11,216 | 8,040 | -17% | -28% |
| Adult Cattle: | 14,459 | 19,777 | 12,860 | -11% | -35% |
| Total: | 144,353 | 179,387 | 144,086 | 0% | -20% |
According to Bord Bia's sheepmeat and livestock sector manager Seamus McMenamin, the international trade of Irish cattle was subdued earlier in the year due to both competitiveness and bluetongue-related issues on animal health certs.
This has now been resolved in most cases, but there has been no Irish cattle exports to Poland this year due to bluetongue restrictions to the trade.
Almost 16,000 Irish calves were exported to Poland in the first 16 weeks of 2025.
The table below details Irish calf exports by market destination for the first 16 weeks of 2024, 2025, and 2026:
| Weeks 1-16 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025/2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 47,434 | 50,404 | 50,508 | 0% |
| Spain | 36,541 | 44,410 | 35,826 | -19% |
| Italy | 8,986 | 11,570 | 13,077 | 13% |
| Croatia | 1,404 | 1,136 | 5,006 | 341% |
| Northern Ireland | 3,247 | 5,344 | 3,916 | -27% |
| Hungary | 561 | 575 | 2,024 | 252% |
| Portugal | 0 | 586 | 550 | -6% |
| Poland | 8,962 | 15,998 | 0 | -100% |
| Other | 3,065 | 936 | 1 | -100% |
| Total | 110,200 | 130,959 | 110,908 | -15% |
Commenting on the export markets for Irish calves, McMenamin said that the Dutch market is Ireland's strongest overseas market "despite ongoing political pressure".
He said that demand from the Netherlands is remaining strong against a backdrop of lower levels of calf imports to the region from Germany.
This is mainly due to reduced availability and the impact of dairy herd reduction and bluetongue, he explained.
The Netherlands was originally due to close to Irish calves after 2025 due to the ‘Future Veal Plan’ but this has been placed on hold for now.
Numbers of Irish calves being exported to Spain have declined this year. McMenamin explained that Spanish customers for Irish calves primarily source beef-sired calves.
The Italian market remains an important outlet for Irish dairy-sired calves for veal production, with reports indicating many veal units in Italy are Dutch-owned.
