Price isn’t the only thing that’s above 2025 levels according to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database.

This week’s calf price table carries data from 7,538 calves, significantly above the 4,637 calves on offer in the same week in 2025.

Combined, there were almost 1,000 more Friesian and Angus-cross calves on offer last week than there were total calves for the same week last year.

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They made up three quarters of all calves traded over the last seven days.

This past week saw 3,426 Friesian bull calves traded, a lift of close to 1,500 on a year ago.

In terms of prices, it’s steady as you go. Both younger and older calves were up €2/head compared with last week, with those from 10 to 20 days of age trading for €246/head and older calves making €288/head.

A year ago, they were making €106/head and €132/head respectively.

Accounting for 2,199 calves, almost three out of every 10 calves were Angus-crosses and bull calves of the breed have met super demand at mart rings across the country.

This is reflected in prices for those aged between three and six weeks of age lifting €72/head.

They averaged €559/head last week, with younger bull calves trading for €459/head, which was up €29/head.

In comparison, older Angus-cross heifers sold for an average of €431/head, up €10/head, while those aged between 10 and 20 days of age sold for €369/head.

Hereford-crosses accounted for 12% of calves traded, with bull calves aged between three and six weeks of age making €568/head over the last week, up €44/head on the previous week.

Heifer calves the same age averaged €452/head, back €11/head on last week

The EU average price for dairy-sired calves rose by €5/head to €259/head with Irish dairy-sired calves trading for €266/head marginally back on the previous week.

Dairy-sired calves in the Netherlands and Germany were averaging €282/head and €278/head respectively.

Meanwhile, Irish beef-cross calves increased by €10/head to €504/head, well ahead of the EU average of €451/head.