Brittany Ferries has confirmed to Agriland its plans to end its livestock transport services from Ireland to mainland Europe.

This development will have a significant impact on the trade of Irish calves to customers located on mainland Europe.

The ferry company told Agriland it will be making no further comment at this time in relation to the decision.

It follows a period of speculation over the August Bank Holiday weekend that the company was reviewing its livestock transport services from Ireland.

Brittany Ferries has not yet indicated when it will cease transporting Irish livestock but it is expected that this is likely to come into effect before calving season 2027.

Sources have told Agriland that it could be implemented as soon as next month (September) however, this has not been officially confirmed.

Over 200,000 calves have been exported from Ireland to date this year. Brittany Ferries is one of two ferry companies that facilitate the transport of Irish calves to mainland Europe.

Irish Ferries also operates sailing routes to mainland Europe with livestock lorries bringing calves to mainland Europe travel on.

However confirmation that Brittany Ferries is set to remove livestock transport services will send shockwaves through certain sectors today (Tuesday, August 4).

Irish-based calf traders involved in the trade of Irish calves to mainland Europe have until now, depended on the ferry company to get their livestock trucks onto mainland Europe.

It is understood several of the key players in the Irish calf trade currently exporting calves to mainland Europe are examining the feasibility of different options for transporting calves on lorries to mainland Europe.

Dutch renew plans to end Irish calf imports

The confirmation from Brittany Ferries comes follows on from the publication of the Action Plan for Humane (Animal‑worthy) Calf Farming earlier this month.

This action plan was presented to Dutch Minister of State Silvio Erkensin June.

The action plan states that by 2040 at the latest, all calves on Dutch farms will have been born in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany or southern Denmark and also states that the Netherlands "aim to stop importing calves from Ireland by 2028 and by 2030 at the latest".

The Veal Forward plan, announced in 2024, had also planned to phase out Irish calf exports by 2026 however, authorities in the country subsequently rowed back on this plan.

Over 90,000 Irish cattle (predominantly calves) have been exported to the Netherlands to date this year.