Planning needed for extra cattle population
ICSA beef committee chairman, Edmond Phelan said that the latest data shows that 2015 calf births are up 6.6% to date.
Now is the time to plan for what will happen to those calves in 18 months. An outlet must be found for them, he said.
The issue was also raised in the Dáil by Independent TD Denis Naughten, who asked Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to outline the steps he is taking to develop the live trade to Britain.
Mr Coveney said he attaches an enormous importance to this trade, which serves a vital purpose in satisfying market demand for live animals and providing essential alternative outlet for cattle producers.
His department, along with Bord Bia, has been extremely proactive during his tenure as minister in encouraging and facilitating the cross border live trade and shipments overseas.
Live cattle exports for 2014 were about 237,000 head, valued at €172m. Some 73,000 of these went to Britain.
Live cattle exports to Britain, so far this year, stand at about 31,000 head, a 25% rise on the comparable period in 2014.
This figure includes live exports to Northern Ireland, with cross-border trade up almost 45% on last year. This trade has been assisted by the relative strength of sterling in recent months.
He said that the figures present strong grounds for optimism regarding the future of the live cattle export trade to this important market.
Mr Coveney said a strong transport system is in place to facilitate live exports. Extra roll-on roll-off ferry capacity for livestock has been added since the beginning of the year.
Three dedicated vessels and three roll-on roll-off ships are currently approved for the export of live animals from Ireland.
The process to approve two more dedicated vessels for the purpose of exporting animals is also under way.
