Weather is improving this week, just in time for the calf trade. Calf numbers have jumped at most mart sales this week, as expected.

However, calmer seas allowed calf trucks to travel on the Tuesday sailing from Rosslare to France. The forecast for Thursday is good and exporters are also hopeful for Saturday. No calf trucks travelled last Saturday because of Storm Jorge.

The high numbers saw calf prices come under pressure at some mart sales. Numbers available for export will remain high for the next four weeks. Exporters report that they are receiving many calls from farmer customers looking to have calves collected.

Meanwhile, additional lairage capacity has now been completed at one of the two approved rest centres at Cherbourg. The operator is now awaiting inspection this week by the French veterinary authorities and, all going well, approval.

The forecast for Thursday is good and exporters are also hopeful for Saturday

That will increase total capacity at the two lairages from the current 4,400 calves per day to over 5,000.

Elsewhere, some veal farms in the Netherlands are understocked because so far they have not received the numbers of Irish calves they expected, because of the bad weather.

This was outlined to an Irish delegation who visited there last week for discussions on animal health, markets and related issues.

It was led by the Department of Agriculture and included Bord Bia, AHI and the Irish Livestock Exports Association.

Some veal farms in the Netherlands are understocked because so far they have not received the numbers of Irish calves they expected

Numbers jump and prices ease

Last week saw much larger numbers of calves on offer in marts right across the country. Export demand remains strong, with the majority of calves being bought for the Dutch market.

Friesian bulls are coming out in large numbers now and prices are a little easier.

The majority of those on offer are three-week-olds with 1,674 sales of three-week-old Friesians recorded on ICBF last week.

Export demand remains strong, with the majority of calves being bought for the Dutch market

The average prices for bulls is €44/head. Where stronger Friesian bulls are on offer, prices of up to €70/head are being achieved.

Likewise, there are a good number of sales where lesser quality Friesian bulls are selling from €30 to €40/head. In some sales there are still some strong half-weaned Friesian bulls selling for over €100/head. Angus bulls are selling for €160/head on average, with heifers making €120.