Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Live Exports: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ms Paula Barry Walsh:

One of the first points made was about the capacity of 80,000 per month. I emphasise that figure relates to calves for the seasonal period. It does not reflect a capacity to export 80,000 weanlings and other animals. We probably have the capacity to export a maximum of 5,000 such animals weekly throughout the year. That is what it works out as on average. The capacity of 80,000 is a response to the possible demand this year. It is a response to the needs of industry. We support industry in trying to enable exports of calves but, as I have said, that figure does not reflect all exports.

Feedlots and where calves are going were also mentioned. I will refer to my colleague on that matter.