Mr. Eamonn Farrell:

There already has been an impact on the calf export market in 2020 due to Covid. We already have seen a 27% drop in live exports of calves to the Continent. Within that, the Dutch market has declined by 47% because of the closure of the food services market where veal was the primary product.

What has helped is the increase in farm-to-farm sales and a decision by the Department to increase the TB testing requirements from 42 days to 120 days. The latter has helped produce a sturdier, healthier calf which has gone into the beef supply chain. If that measure could be continued, as we are still living with the impact of Covid and with Brexit on the horizon, it would be welcome.

The concern is that if there is a blockage on the land bridge side, that would have a knock-on impact on ferry routes to the Continent. That in turn might impact on the live trade. The addition of extra ferry capacity is welcome. The Danish company coming in with a direct route to Dunkirk will help. That is welcome.

In the longer term, options around dairy breeding will have to be looked at seriously. There are measures under way through a calf welfare stakeholder forum which the Department is chairing. There are measures around sexed semen. The dairy beef index will have to be increased in terms of dairy farm usage, as well as improving the overall dairy to beef integration which is vital.