Exports and imports of live sheep are recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES).
TRACES is the European Commission's online platform for sanitary and phytosanitary certification required for the importation of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants into the European Union. It is also used for intra-EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products.
My Department uses TRACES to record all sheep movements between Ireland and all other jurisdictions whether for slaughter, breeding or fattening purposes.
The system records the volume, but not the value, of imported and exported sheep and does not differentiate by ovine category - whether lamb/hogget, spring lamb, ewe or ram.
While live sheep exports occur throughout the year, the majority of animals are shipped in July/August because of the seasonality of production.
The tables hereunder provide information on the quantity of live sheep exported to destination markets annually for the years 2018 to 2022 inclusive. The data shows that France accounted for almost 70 percent of live sheep exports during that period.
Live Sheep Exports 2022
Country
|
Quantity (Head)
|
Belgium
|
1,963
|
France
|
7,917
|
Germany
|
44
|
Italy
|
149
|
Portugal
|
16
|
Netherlands
|
1,060
|
Spain
|
11
|
Romania
|
10
|
Switzerland
|
37
|
United Kingdom
|
19
|
Northern Ireland
|
2,127
|
Total
|
13,353
|
Live Sheep Exports 2021
Country
|
Quantity (Head)
|
Northern Ireland
|
772
|
France
|
13,199
|
Germany
|
325
|
Belgium
|
1,598
|
Switzerland
|
17
|
Romania
|
44
|
Spain
|
30
|
Uzbekistan
|
240
|
Portugal
|
17
|
Italy
|
1,447
|
Netherlands
|
1,928
|
Total
|
19,617
|
Live Sheep Exports 2020
Country
|
Quantity (Head)
|
United Kingdom
|
295
|
Hungary
|
720
|
France
|
18,422
|
Bulgaria
|
2,441
|
Germany
|
38
|
Belgium
|
21
|
Spain
|
27
|
Portugal
|
16
|
Italy
|
2,878
|
Netherlands
|
3,103
|
Austria
|
1
|
Total
|
27,962
|
Live Sheep Exports 2019
Country
|
Quantity (Head)
|
United Kingdom
|
312
|
Italy
|
858
|
Hungary
|
313
|
France
|
4,555
|
Belgium
|
299
|
Germany
|
23
|
Bulgaria
|
284
|
Netherlands
|
517
|
Total
|
7,161
|
Live Sheep Exports 2018
Country
|
Quantity (Head)
|
Belgium
|
1,510
|
Germany
|
5
|
France
|
16,739
|
United Kingdom
|
158
|
Italy
|
276
|
Netherlands
|
2,077
|
Portugal
|
4
|
Total
|
20,769
|