The old adage that a week is a long time in politics could equally apply to calf sales if the sale in Bandon Mart was anything to go by on Monday this week.

A week ago, you would have purchased about 75% of Angus and Hereford calves for €20 either side of €200.

Something must have happened to create extra optimism, because there was a serious change in buyer mind-set over the last seven days.

A high proportion of those traditional beef breed crosses originating from British Friesian herds were making from €240 to €320.

Those lighter calves of the same crosses or those from Jersey-cross herds were back at around the €150 to €220 range.

Usually, there would be more of a defined difference between what the traditional beef-cross and the continental calf make, but that was rarer this week, with a lift in demand for Angus and Herefords.

Friesians

Friesian bull calves were scarce and that could be seen in the price range for them. It was one of tightest price brackets of the spring.

Most Friesian bull calves under six weeks sold from €90 to €130, with a small number making €10 to €20 either side of this.

There was a bit more available for the older Friesian bull calf. Even a small selection of Jersey-cross bulls came into that price range, but they were a bit over the six weeks.

Solid trade for stronger calves

Similar to the rest of this spring's calf sales, there were stronger calves presented at the mart and they met a very solid trade.

There was just under 1,000 calves on offer in Bandon Mart on Monday, making it the first time since early February that calf numbers were in triple digits.

Numbers were back slightly on last week, but looking back at the figures for the last few years, the amount of calves coming out in late April is at its lowest in the last five years.

Perhaps it reflects on the further tightening of the calving pattern on dairy farms, as farmers try to maximise the amount of time cows spend at grass.