Calf exports face limit in peak weeks

With 30,000 additional dairy calves due this spring, the challenge for crucial live exports will be lairage space at Cherbourg.

Early April looks set to be the major pinch point. New lairage rules could hamper the number of calves that can be exported during the peak of mid-March to mid-April.

Veterinary rules require that calves ferried from Ireland be rested, fed and watered for 12 hours at Cherbourg.

The Cherbourg lairages can handle 4,000 calves every 12 hours, the equivalent of 12 or 13 modern trucks

Until 2018, calves were rested in two approved lairages at Cherbourg or, if these were full, the next available one en route to Holland, Belgium, Italy and Spain.

However, groups opposed to veal production complained that some Irish calves, by travelling to the next available lairage, were exceeding maximum journey times.

As a result, for 2019 the Department of Agriculture will insist that all calves are rested at Cherbourg.

The Cherbourg lairages can handle 4,000 calves every 12 hours, the equivalent of 12 or 13 modern trucks.

So the new rules mean that no more than 13 lorries, or 4,000 calves in all, can stop there on any one day.

This will be adequate for most of the year but during the peak three or four weeks, exporters could send up to 20 lorries on a busy day.

This has arisen where stormy weather at sea suspended calf transport, causing a backlog.

In an ideal scenario, the 2019 sailings from Dublin to Cherbourg would alternate with Rosslare sailings, spreading out demand for the Cherbourg lairage.

However, that will not be the case in February, March, April and early May.

This spring there will be three weekly sailings, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from Rosslare to Cherbourg. The Horizon is approved by veterinary authorities to carry 20 livestock trucks, depending on size.

In addition, likely starting this weekend, there will be three weekly sailings from Dublin to Cherbourg, also on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Irish Ferries’ boat Epsilon, has been inspected and approved by the Department of Agriculture to carry 10 livestock trucks.

From late May, Irish Ferries will switch to a summer schedule and step up sailings from Dublin to Cherbourg to seven times per fortnight

In the third week of March, the Epsilon will be replaced by Irish Ferries’ bigger boat, the WB Yeats.

It is due to be inspected by the Department’s veterinary and marine experts in the coming days for suitability to carry livestock.

This modern, very high-tech boat is expected to meet all health and welfare requirements.

However, through March, April and early May it will continue the schedule of sailing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

From late May, Irish Ferries will switch to a summer schedule and step up sailings from Dublin to Cherbourg to seven times per fortnight.

This means that every second week the Dublin sailings will run on different days to the sailings from Rosslare – and arrive on different days at Cherbourg.

Transport of calf trucks on ferry boats is strictly regulated on health and welfare.

In lay persons’ terms, calves must have plenty of fresh air and be on a large, stable boat.

There must be facilities on the boat to lash down trucks to ensure stability.

Calf trucks can only be taken on board if forecast sailing weather is calm.