Table: The rise in calf and weanling exports over the past decade
Irish calf export numbers have increased from almost 73,000 head to over 223,000 head in the past decade, according to figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The DAFM Beef Carcase Classification and Price Reporting 2025 annual report details cattle export numbers from Ireland by category over the past decade.
For the purpose of the data in the table below, calves are deemed all cattle under three months-of-age and weanlings are deemed all cattle from 3-12 months-of-age.
The table below details annual calf and weanling exports by gender over the past decade:
| Year | Male calf | Female calf | Total calf | Male weanling | Female weanling | Total weanling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 71,006 | 1,759 | 72,765 | 27,257 | 3,146 | 30,403 |
| 2017 | 98,931 | 3,866 | 102,797 | 26,279 | 6,933 | 33,212 |
| 2018 | 140,026 | 21,403 | 161,429 | 26,578 | 7,283 | 33,861 |
| 2019 | 172,063 | 28,153 | 200,216 | 37,133 | 4,320 | 41,453 |
| 2020 | 125,705 | 18,004 | 143,709 | 31,042 | 6,251 | 37,293 |
| 2021 | 120,097 | 21,397 | 141,494 | 14,653 | 5,329 | 19,982 |
| 2022 | 146,295 | 25,369 | 171,664 | 32,680 | 4,752 | 37,432 |
| 2023 | 165,599 | 42,396 | 207,995 | 32,321 | 5,685 | 38,006 |
| 2024 | 151,752 | 49,056 | 200,808 | 53,390 | 13,779 | 67,169 |
| 2025 | 158,254 | 65,167 | 223,421 | 39,322 | 8,841 | 48,163 |
The data in the table above shows a number of interesting trends in Irish cattle export numbers, including the substantial rise in calf export numbers and the rise in weanling export numbers to a lesser extent.
In 2016, a total of just under 73,000 head of calves were exported from Ireland. 71,000 of these were males and the remainder were heifer calves (1,759).
By 2025, this had increased by over 150,000 head (150,656) to 223,421 calves.
In the same time period, weanling exports increased by almost 18,000 head from 30,400 to 48,200 head.
2026 cattle export numbers have got off to a slow start with a range of issues, including bluetongue trading restrictions, limiting the numbers of Irish cattle that can be traded to markets such as Northern Ireland.
Other key markets such as the Netherlands and Spain remain open to Irish cattle.
It is hoped that the restriction on the trade of Irish cattle for breeding to Northern Ireland can be lifted in the near future with some positive sounding from authorities on the matter.
