Calf exports to the Netherlands are running 80% higher than last year, Department of Agriculture figures show.

Up to last week, some 76,724 calves left Ireland for the Netherlands since the start of the year.

Calf exports to all EU markets reached 143,000 head by the first week in May 2019. This was up by 35,187 head, or 33%, on 2018.

Department figures also show 5,111 calves were exported last week, so the trend of increased exports is continuing.

Demand from the Netherlands has been helped by lower calf births as the country continues to reduce its dairy herd in order to meet nitrates regulations.

Calf supplies are also tighter across Europe, following higher drought and milk price related culling in 2018.

The lower prices of Irish calves this spring also helped to increase their competitiveness on the EU market.

Ferry changes

Livestock exporters will run more frequent ferry sailings from Ireland to France to help exports from next Monday, when Irish Ferries introduces its summer timetable.

At present Irish Ferries’ boat departs from Dublin on the same days (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) as Stena Line sailings from Rosslare.

Under the summer timetable, every second week the Dublin sailings will depart on alternate days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays).

This will ease demand for lairage space at Cherbourg.

For Irish exporters, access to lairage is less of a concern now than it was in late March, when calf exports peaked and ran at higher levels than last year.

Nonetheless, the greater choice of sailing days gives more flexibility to exporters and will be useful should unsettled weather prevent sailing on any one day.