British and Irish animal welfare groups have pledged to put a stop the live shipping of calves to Europe which they believe is being kept going by cheap calves from Ireland.
The first major protest against the calf export trade was held last weekend in Dover by Compassion in World Farming and Kent Against Live Exports.
The groups, which have spearheaded the campaign against live exports in the past, have threatened to intensify their protests.
It emerged that calves being shipped from the Republic to the Continent are all being shipped through Larne, Co Antrim, adding extra journey time.
"No calves are being carried from the Republic across the Irish Sea to Britain on ferries because no company applied for a licence to do so," said Mary Anne Bartlett, of CIWF Ireland.
"This means that young calves are being taken to Larne, across to Scotland and have to travel down the length of Britain before being put on ferries for the Netherlands or France.
"The Kent Against Live Exports group believe that the live trade from Britain to the Continent, is being kept alive by cheap Irish calf exports," Ms Bartlett added.
She said the EU ban on exports of live cattle from Britain had recently been lifted and this had increased interest in the trade again. "They are monitoring the shipments and they believe that most of the calves leaving for the veal crates of Europe are coming from the Republic of Ireland."
She said a new report published by CIWF, Calf Transport And Veal Rearing, provided scientific evidence that young calves were not suited to long journeys.
This has shown calves are not well adapted to cope with transport. Their immune systems are not fully developed and they are not able to control their body temperature well so are susceptible to heat and cold stress. They suffer weight loss, and illness and deaths following transportation can be high.
The report also concludes that in continental Europe, calves are usually reared on slatted floors in large group housing systems, without bedding to keep them warm. Slatted floors quickly become slippery, making it harder for calves to stand up and lie down or move around.
Last year 251,203 cattle of all ages, including calves, were exported to all destinations, of which 222,350 were exported to continental Europe. In 2006, calves under six weeks old were exported to continental Europe, according to official figures given recently in the Dáil.
Under EU rules, the transport of calves on journeys of more than eight hours is permitted only in respect of calves that are older than 14 days.