Markets

Calf price update: export demand raises Friesian bull calf price

Prices for Friesian bull calves were up again, as mart managers reported strong demand from exporters. Meanwhile, Angus-cross calves passed Friesians as the must numerous breed on offer at calf sales.

Tommy Moyles

Wed 25 March 2026 12:00 AM

Tommy Moyles

Wed 25 March 2026 10:00 PM

Calf price update: export demand raises Friesian bull calf price

Mart managers reported strong exporter activity at calf sales across the country over the past week. \ Odhran Ducie

It’s fair to say we’re at peak calf sale period, with sales data from 20,556 calves available from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database this week.

The switch to beef sires during last spring is noticeable too, as this was the first week where Angus-crosses were more plentiful than Friesians.

There was a slight easing in price across some categories while they spiked for others.

The most noticeable of these was the rise of €27/head experienced by Friesian bull calves aged between three and six weeks of age.

They averaged €279/head over the past week and this reflects shipper demand that was noticeable at calf sales.

Better Friesian bull calves were making between €300 and €370 at a lot of sales and an increase in the price of German dairy-sired calves could be a factor in their increase.

Angus-crosses accounted for 36% of all calves on offer and while prices for both older and younger bull calves were up, Angus-cross heifers were back slightly.

Exporter demand could have played a role in the upward movement of bull calf prices.

For those aged between three and six weeks of age, Angus-cross bulls averaged €471/head, an improvement of €6 on last week.

Bull calves aged 10 to 20 days of age increased by €30/head to €430. Older Angus-cross heifers traded for €373/head, back €1 on last week, while younger heifer calves averaged €325/head, a reduction of €7.

Hereford-cross bulls aged between three and six weeks of age made €507/head, while the same age heifers averaged €395/head, reductions of €3 and €8 respectively.

For Belgian Blue-crosses from three to six weeks old, bulls averaged €545/head and heifers €472/head.

EU prices

With the exception of Ireland where calf numbers are peaking, prices for calves are up across the EU for the second week of March.

Dairy-sired bull calves averaged €288/head, an increase of €51. Irish calf prices were below this at €267/head, back €21 on the previous week. German prices increased by €15/head, giving an average price of €327 for a dairy-sired calf.