Calf numbers have held relatively stable at marts over the last week, with prices from 19,163 calves included in this week’s price table.

However, the same can’t be said of prices, as they took a hit across the board, according to data based on the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database.

Strong demand from farmers for calves born from December to mid-February has faded, as calf numbers began to peak and prices are beginning to level off, according to mart managers.

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Friesian bulls, Angus- and Hereford-crosses made up 87% of all calves traded and across their 10 categories, prices are back anywhere from €36/head to €66/head compared with last week.

Big blow

Accounting for about one third of all calves, Friesian bull calf prices took a big blow over the last week.

Those aged between three and six weeks of age averaged €252/head, back €60/head on last week, while younger Friesian bulls aged between 10 and 20 days saw their prices fall by €64/head to €221/head.

When it came to numbers, Angus-crosses were hot on the heels of Friesians and made up 34% of all calves traded in the last seven days.

Angus-cross bulls aged between three and six weeks took the biggest hit, as prices for those fell by €66/head to €465/head.

There was a similar drop for Angus-cross heifers of the same age, as they fell below the €400/head mark.

They sold for an average of €374/head, back €59/head on the previous week.

Younger bull calves sold for an average of €412/head, back €53/head, while heifer calves of the same age traded for €332/head, a decrease of €36/head compared with last week.

For Hereford-crosses, three- to six-week-old bulls sold for €510/head and heifers for €403/head. This represents a decrease of €45/head and €54/head respectively.

EU prices

Calf prices in the EU were up for early March, with dairy-sired bull calves at €283/head, an increase of €18. Dutch dairy-sired bulls were up €5 to average €305/head while in Germany they were up €11 to €312/head. Irish dairy-sired calves rose by €45 to €288/head.