Dairy bull calf numbers are up again and look set to peak over this and next week. Prices for export calves and for lighter ones are under pressure and generally down on last week.

The pressure on prices is not because of any drop in export demand – it’s because exporters have missed 13 ferry sailings since 1 February because of rough seas and the backlog of calves that has resulted. Demand for Irish calves remains high in the Netherlands.

Exporters were able to get their trucks on all sailings to Cherbourg in the past week.

However, they didn’t get clearance for Saturday’s sailing until near enough departure time and, as a result, the full number of trucks did not sail.

There are also concerns that rough weather will again prevent calf trucks going on Thursday’s sailing from Rosslare.

The additional lairage capacity at Cherbourg is now up and running. This, and any settled weather, would see the backlog of calves exported over coming weeks and prices steady.

Because of the bad sea weather, a number of calf exporters have again investigated the feasibility of flying calves to mainland Europe.

There is a regular cargo service from Dublin to an airport in Belgium but, on top of flight cost of up to €70 per calf, this would also require transport by truck on to the Netherlands.

For now, it’s too expensive but these exporters predict that they will have to switch to air transport in the future.