Ireland-Live exports best in 10 years.

IRELAND-LIVE EXPORTS BOOMING.

Live cattle exports to date this year are the highest they have been since 2000.

The latest figures from Bord Bia show that live exports from Ireland, up to March 21, have increased by almost 90pc over the same period last year.

Almost 62,000 cattle have been exported so far, compared to 32,958 in the same period in 2008.

Some 60pc of the animals exported were calves, while 24pc were weanlings/stores and 15pc were finished cattle. Continental markets have been performing well, particularly the calf and weanling trade.

Live calf exports to the Netherlands have risen by 120pc to more than 23,000 head. The increase has been driven by a stable demand for veal, a recovery in Dutch calf prices and the absence of UK calves from that market.

The number of cattle moving across the border to Northern Ireland has also increased dramatically to more than 11,500 head so far this year -- a 140pc increase on 2008.

More than 8,400 finished cattle have crossed the border for slaughter this year, compared to 3,207 last year. That is an increase of 160pc.

Overall shipments to Spain have risen by more than 50pc, from 5,078 in 2008 to 7,760 in 2009.

There has been a 50pc increase in the number of calves and a 100pc boost in the number of weanlings and store cattle going to Spain.

Italian exports are up 20pc, from 6,583 in early 2008 to 8,756 in the same period this year.

This year’s strong live exports could mean the possibility of higher beef prices next year.

Bord Bia’s beef manager, Joe Burke, said the level of live exports from Ireland can have quite a significant effect on cattle supplies at meat plants in the subsequent two years.

"For example, the decline in numbers of prime cattle last year was mainly because of the strong live exports in 2006," he explained.

Meanwhile, mart prices for store cattle have lifted as farmers flock to the ringside in anticipation of fresh spring grass.

Prices for store animals have increased by some €30-40/hd in Ennis Mart over the past fortnight.

Good out-lying Continental stores sold for €350-430 over the weight on Thursday.

Shippers were keen to secure U+ and E grade weanlings and paid prices of up to €1,200 for them. Exporters bought 25pc of the weanlings on offer, according to mart manager Martin McNamara.

Kilkenny Mart manager Michael Lynch said there were plenty of farmer buyers for lighter grass cattle this week, with prices up €10-15/hd on the previous week.

- Caitriona Murphy