Camera at the Mart: Bandon calf trade gets under way for 2025

Bandon Mart got back up and running for 2025 following the postponing of last week’s sale due to the freezing weather conditions experienced in the south of the country.

There were 285 calves and runners on offer and no shortage of customers, with trade picking up marginally behind where it finished up before Christmas.

Angus-crosses were most evident among the pens and the majority of those over one-month-old and weighing over 60kg tended to sell for between €175 and €320.

A share of those closer to 80kg or above it made up to €400. Hereford-crosses were thinner on the ground, but made similar money depending on weight and age.

Exceptional calves

A few lots of exceptional continental calves sold for in excess of these prices. Of note were a group of one-month-old Belgian Blue-cross bulls that weighed almost 90kg and sold for €585.

Friesian bull calves sold well, as calves over 60kg made anywhere from €90 to €220, with farmer buyers competing for the older calves over the export age limit.

Speaking after the sale, auctioneer Denis O'Donoghue said: “It’s hard to believe it, but prices for Angus-crosses are back a little compared to before Christmas, maybe by €20 to €50/head.

"Prices were unreal in December for them, but it’s eased a bit now. Lighter calves were a bit dearer last month, but farmers are still willing to pay for that bigger calf.

"Friesians then went the opposite way. In December, they were around €1.90/kg to €2/kg, but they’re mostly over €2/kg this week.

There was a massive ring of customers there today and that helped trade too.”