Bord Bia predicts increase in live cattle exports to Europe

Bord Bia is confident live cattle exports are set to rise in 2016, boosted by a series of promotional campaigns it is hosting in neighbouring EU states.

Fresh from promoting live exports to global buyers at Italy’s Fieragricola trade fair in Verona last week, Bord Bia, and ambassador to Spain David Cooney hosted a beef dinner in Madrid on Monday for Asoprovac, the Spanish Cattle Feedlots Association.

Spanish buyers expressed interest in Bord Bia’s news that Irish calf registrations grew by 120,000 head in 2015, with a similar rise expected this year.

Bord Bia also led a talk for Spanish feedlot owners in Cordoba, organised with Asoprovac and Covap. Covap members finish over 22,000 cattle per year in its meat plant.

“The drop in the number of animals carried over from last year in Spanish feedlots increases opportunities for Irish live cattle exports,” said Cecilia Ruiz, Bord Bia’s Spain manager.

“Spain is growing its beef production, and demand is expected to focus on good quality Friesian bull calves, plus beef crosses coming from the dairy herd.”

In 2014, Spanish live cattle imports rose 31% to 532,000, with further growth last year, mainly in France. In 2015, Irish exports to Spain were ca 30,000 head, of which 95% were calves.

Bord Bia is also confident Ireland can increase its live cattle exports to Italy, which reached 25,000 head in 2015, mostly Belgian Blue and Limousin, with a recent demand for niche breeds such as Angus. Italy imports one million live cattle each year, more than any other EU country.

Bord Bia’s Italy manager Nicolas Ranninger said he was delighted Fieragricola chose Ireland as its first guest country.

“This high- profile honour drove extra visitors to the Bord Bia stand, and we used the opportunity to drive demand for Irish livestock and food,” Mr Ranninger said.

Meanwhile, Bord Bia is in Nuremberg, Germany, today promoting its Origin Green sustainability programme at Biofach, a trade event which hosts 2,000 exhibitors and 44,000 trade visitors from 130 countries.

Bord Bia is hosting 10 Irish organic food firms including Good Herdsmen; Irish Country Meats; Slaney Foods; Irish Seaspray; Kush Seafarms; Marine Harvest Ireland; and Natasha’s Living Food.