‘Positive’ year for livestock

Irish cattle farmers are likely to have 120-150,000 fewer finished cattle to sell in 2015, compared to 2014, said Joe Burke of Bord Bia at the Food Board’s annual meat prospects seminar in Dublin last week.

Calf registrations declined by 96,000 head, and exports of calves and weanlings increased by 54,000 head, in 2013, compared to 2012.

But live exports, grazing conditions, and farmer decisions as the year goes on, will also dictate the cattle supply, said Mr Burke.