Live cattle exports to North up 90%

LIVE exports to the North have almost doubled during the first five months of the year as beef producers cross the border to benefit from higher prices for finished cattle.

The trend has been confirmed by official statistics, which show an increase of more than 90% in live exports of cattle to Northern Ireland up to the end of May.

The principal growth was in finished cattle and some store animals moving across the border, where beef prices have been consistently stronger throughout the year and finishers in the south have been taking advantage of the higher returns.