Calf exports to date in 2019 are running 40% ahead of 2018. By the end of last week, exports were 30,317 head, an increase of 8,612 calves.

However, higher exports have not been able to prevent the sharp fall in prices due to a combination of lower farmer demand and higher calf numbers. Prices this week are back €40 to €50 per head on 12 months ago.

Exports last week were also ahead of the same week in 2018, at 8,321 head, up by 1,577 head. Weather permitting, exports this week could reach 12,000 – the maximum possible at present due to limited resting lairage at Cherbourg. The marine forecast for the week ahead is mixed.

Purcell boat

Meanwhile, Purcell Brothers confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal it is holding talks with the IFA and the Department of Agriculture on making its approved, walk-on, walk-off boat, the Alondra, available to carry calves from Ireland to France.

The large size of the boat – it could probably carry over 6,000 calves or the equivalent of 20 trucks – means calf exporters would have to club together to make a trip viable. They are more used to operating independently and would have to have trucks on hand in France to move calves on to destination farms.

The Alondra is fitted out for carrying weanlings and could require some minor modifications to carry calves. However, it is available if needed, Purcell Brothers said. On arrival at a French port it could serve as resting lairage for 12 hours, solving the current lairage problems.

The option of using the boat was discussed at a meeting this week between IFA president Joe Healy and Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

Healy also called on the minister to travel to France and intervene directly with his counterpart Ministre Stephane Travert.

“It must be within the capacity of the two governments to ensure that Irish farmers have access to the EU single market for calf exports.”