DUBLIN: Live cattle exports in 2017 have increased by 35% on this time last year, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. An additional 10,689 head of cattle have been exported from Ireland so far this year, compared to the same period in 2016, Minister Creed added. 2017 has been a positive year so far for live exports; strong sales of calves, particularly to the Netherlands and Spain, have helped the to increase the overall number of cattle exported from Ireland this year, he said.
Minister Creed revealed the data in response to a recent question from Fianna Fail’s Spokesperson on Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue. McConalogue asked Minister Creed to give a breakdown of the number of live cattle, both under three months of age and over three months of age, exported from Ireland in 2016. “Data from my Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system show that last year a total of 145,570 head of live cattle were exported from Ireland. Of these, 72,740 were aged below three months, and 72,830 were aged three months or older. “The continental market for young calves has traditionally been important for dairy farmers, providing an important source of income and underpinning the market for such stock,” he said.
Meanwhile, in mid-February, Minister Creed announced that the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves under three months of age would be reduced to €1.20/animal. This represented a reduction of 75%, as prior to the reduction the fee for calves under three months was €4.80/animal. The Department hopes this reduction will bring greater equity in respect of fees payable per consignment for calves, weanlings and adult cattle. A veterinary inspection fee of €4.80/animal remains in place on bovine animals over three months of age.
