Calf, weanling live exports down
Combined exports of calves and weanlings to the first week of May show a drop of 46% on the same period last year and represent only a trickle of the level achieved in 2000 the year prior to foot-and-mouth controls.
Higher prices for calves and weanlings in Ireland this year, compared to the Continent contributed to the fall off in exports with livestock exporters unable to compete for the supply of the young stock to continental customers.
Beef breed calves are currently costing 26% more than the same week last year an increase of €71/head.
Calf exports for January to May amounted to 21,669 head a drop of 34% compared to 32,830 head last year.
Weanlings exports at 7,225 head were down from 20,221 head in 2003, a decline of 64%. Current exports represents only 21% of the 2000 level when 134,000 calves and weanlings were exported live in the first four months.
Given a continuation of the pattern to the end of the year, it will result in a substantial increase in livestock numbers in the national herd.
The national breeding herd was 2.2 million at the end of December, a drop of 1.7% on the previous year.
Total live exports for the year to date are down by 45% on last year, resulting in a drop of 35,000 head to 44,700 head. Total live exports for the same period in 2000 was 177,000 head.
Live exports in 2004 to countries outside EU fell by 86% with only 2,143 animals leaving for these traditionally very strong markets for Irish cattle a market which accounted for over 30,000 head for the same period in 2000, which was the last good year for live sales.
