Twenty one calf trucks travelled on Tuesday evening’s sailing from Rosslare to Cherburg. This is the highest number yet carried on the stand-in boat, which will operate the route for the next four weeks or so. It’s also the maximum number of calf trucks that the boat can carry, under the strict terms of its approval by the Department of Agriculture. The sailing carried close to 6,000 calves, destined for customers in the Netherlands and Spain.

The boat’s three sailings per week, plus the separate Saturday sailing from Dublin to Cherburg, have total weekly export capacity of over 20,000 calves, if needed and sea conditions permitting. One exporter had another consignment of calves ready for export on Tuesday, but couldn’t get a place on the sailing. He will instead load the calves for the next departure on Thursday evening.

This aside, the indications are that ferry capacity will not limit exports in 2018. Instead, exports might be limited by availability of approved calf trucks. After delivering calves exporters try to get the truck home quickly for the next load. Trucks returning from the Netherlands usually route via the UK, as this reduces the sea journey. Hopes for higher exports in 2018 are based on demand remaining as strong as expected.

Meanwhile, there is also a positive outlook for exports of feeder and heavy bulls in 2018. Demand for meat and livestock in Turkey, Libya and neighbouring countries, is very strong.

Prices

Limiting exports are Irish cattle prices, which are too high for these markets, particularly where currencies have weakened.

A boat of heavy Irish bulls was to be unloaded by Supreme Livestock in Libya on Tuesday. Meanwhile, that same Tuesday Viastar began filling another boat at Greenore for Turkey. The company continues to buy heavy bulls and plans to fill more boats.

From June onwards Irish exporters will be able to sell feeder-weight bulls directly to Turkish importers.