The calf trade faces a major test, with numbers of young dairy stock entering mart sales about to escalate.

Dairy calf numbers are at a record high, compact calving means almost three quarters of them will go to marts in March.

Numbers remain low this week and good farmer demand is keeping prices on par with last year.

Live exports to Holland, which always absorbs thousands of dairy calves at a time of peak numbers, face challenges again in 2017 because of confusing transport rules.

Talks between governments

Officials from our Department of Agriculture have liaised with their counterparts in Holland over recent months to try to facilitate smooth exports of calves. But this week the Department issued a circular to exporters clarifying that the restrictions of last year remain in place.

The transport rules were introduced last year by Dutch authorities in response to pressure from lobby groups opposed to the veal trade. They go beyond the already strict common rules set by the EU and impose additional costs on Irish calves.

Most lorries of calves journeying from Ireland to Holland now have to make a second stop on the continent and be unloaded for feed/water. Exporters warn that the unloading and reloading puts heightened stress on the calves. The extra journey time brings additional cost.

Dutch officials require that livestock lorries be fitted with revised drinkers using rubber teats. The trucks of Irish hauliers are fitted out to comply with the EU standard used in all other member states.

These trailers are high specification with hydraulically folding decks and are certified as meeting EU standards – hauliers are reluctant to make alterations to suit just one member state.

Further, while there is clarity about common EU standards, hauliers are unclear on what exactly is required to meet Dutch requirements.

One haulier has revised a trailer to Dutch requirements and will make a trial delivery to Holland over the coming days to see if his trailer is accepted by the Dutch agricultural officials.

A fall in exports

In 2015 over 41,000 Irish calves were exported to Holland. In 2016 exports fell to 26,000 head because of the tougher transport rules, increased dairy herd size and falling EU veal consumption. The tighter transport rules and higher costs were a key factor in Cork Marts – the dominant exporter – withdrawing from the business last autumn.

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