A second week of disruption to calf exports due to adverse weather conditions has created a backlog of calves on farms waiting to sail.

Mart managers report notably less export buyer activity this week as they wait to get calves moving once again.

However, the impact on calf price has been minimal as of yet, with Friesian bull calves back just €5/head this week to an average price of €57. Strong farmer buyer demand is helping maintain prices.

It is hoped that sailings can resume in the coming days ahead of peak calf trade in the coming weeks.

Seamus McMenamin of Bord Bia said that while the poor weather had caused a level of disruption to ferry sailings, reports indicated strong demand for calves. Export numbers for the first six weeks of the year were at 4,159 head, up slightly on the 3,907 calves exported in the same period last year.

John Hallissey, secretary of the Irish Livestock Exporters Association, said that the combination of Brexit and weather conditions had resulted in a difficult start to the year for exporters.

He said changes to boats and schedules since Brexit have seen 51 fewer livestock lorry load spaces a week on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route alone. He said for one sailing earlier this week there was demand for space for 42 loads of calves but just five livestock truck spaces available.

Hallissey also raised concerns over the lack of progress being made on an IBR eradication programme. He said in two years’ time, important export markets such as the Netherlands could be lost if Ireland does not have an IBR programme in place.

Even to transport cattle through countries such as France may become an issue as other European countries implement eradication programmes, he warned.