Rise in cattle imports from Northern Ireland
South of the border, calf births are up almost 100,000 head to date in 2015 compared to 2014, and live exports are down 25,000 head compared to last year.
Farmers fear oversupply will drive down prices.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that 213 male cattle (excluding calves) came south across the border in May, for further breeding and production — the highest monthly export since May 2013.
This brings north-to-south exports of male cattle for 2015 to date to 401 head, compared to 205 head in the corresponding period in 2014.
Exports of prime cattle from north to south for direct slaughter during 2015 to date have also recorded a notable increase on year earlier levels, reaching 880 in the first five months of 2015, compared to 288 in 2014.
