Some calves selling for less than 50 cents last spring was blamed on lairage issue

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has urged the live export sector to consider developing an additional lairage in Cherbourg, France, or engaging with the owners of existing facilities to explore the potential for additional capacity.

Last spring, low prices for bull calves were blamed on the supply of Irish calves exceeding the lairage capacity at Cherbourg in France, the first control point where EU regulations require Irish calves must be unloaded, and rested for 12 hours, before continuing to their destinations.