As exporters prepare to start buying dairy calves for export, concerns are mounting as no suitable replacement has been found for the Stena Horizon which goes out of service within days.

The boat is the main carrier of livestock trucks to the continent but is booked in for four weeks’ refurbishment.

The Department of Agriculture is telling exporters that it continues to liaise with Stena and is hopeful of approving a replacement boat for the period.

In the absence of the Horizon, exporters are reliant on an Irish Ferries sailing to France each Saturday, which has less capacity.

Some exporters began buying calves this week and have trucks booked on the Saturday sailing to France. Other exporters will begin buying over the next two weeks and the trade will then expand rapidly.

The high numbers of Irish calves exported in February and early March is driven by availability.

The keenest demand for Irish calves from veal producers on the continent occurs in April. Calves arriving then will finish just in time for the peak Christmas demand.

Calves entering feedlots this month will finish in early autumn when demand is lower.

Exporter David Scallon of Wicklow Calf Company said he was confident that the Department and Stena would find a solution to the ferry issue.

“We will commence buying calves next week and will send the first trucks out on Saturday 10 February.”

He said that if necessary his company would fly out calves to customers in the Netherlands if transport is restricted in coming weeks.

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