The Netherlands imports more German calves and fewer Irish ones

In total, calf imports have increased slightly this year, from 165,788 animals last year up to and including week 11 to 172,622 this year. German calves make up the vast majority of imports. This year, 132,256 calves were imported from this country in eleven weeks, a share of almost 77 percent. Last year, 101,289 calves came from Germany in the same period. That is a share of 61 percent. This increase is largely distorted because hardly any calves were imported from Germany in the first two weeks of last year. This was because German veal farmers have had to keep their calves on the farm for up to 28 days since 2023. The Netherlands imported 38,955 calves from Ireland last year, bringing the share to 24 percent. This year, 19,032 calves were imported from Ireland, reducing the share to 11 percent. According to the Irish food agency Bord Bia, there has been a slight shift in the calving pattern on dairy farms, which has caused a slower start to exports of calves this year. RVO ...