Rough seas are holding back sailing of dairy calves to Holland and other markets, just as the export trade was getting under way.

Exporters were unable to send calf trucks on the ferry sailings to Cherbourg on Saturday and Tuesday last because of storm Ciara and its aftermath. They expect to also miss the sailings this Thursday and Saturday.

One exporter said that at least 25 calf trucks would otherwise have travelled on these four sailings. If so, that means that over 7,000 calves have now been held back. That exporter is not buying this week.

He has 1,200 calves in farmers’ sheds waiting to go.

Exporters are hopeful of ferry sailings next week and advise dairy farmers to hold back calves until the temporary backlog is cleared.

“There is good demand on export markets. We are getting plenty of enquiries,” one said. “But it’s important that calves arrive freshly off farms.”

The export hold up is affecting mart prices. Younger, export type calves were €20 to €30 lower in price at Bandon Mart’s sale on Monday. A total of 150 dairy calves have been exported to Holland so far this year, compared to over 1,100 in the same period last year.