Exceptional demand from the continent where bluetongue severely impacted the availability of calves increased Irish calf prices in April and May last year and at present, a similar pattern appears unlikely.

In contrast to last year, prices began to pivot south from early March. Beef calf prices began to fall from mid-March calf prices and seem to be returning to their pre-2025 trends.

With averages of between €59/head to €76/head prior to last year and with the exception of May 2021, they have rarely exceeded €100/head which shows just how far they have come.

ADVERTISEMENT

While there’s a price difference between the breeds, the price trends appear divided along the sexes for Angus- and Hereford-crosses. Until the middle of March, bull calves of both breeds were averaging in excess of €500/head and trading for prices above any point of last year with a spike in price coming in mid-February and early March.

Angus-cross bulls are still making over €50/head than their 2025 average price while for Hereford-crosses, that figure is closer to €70/head.

Over the past month they have fallen steadily and look on track to slip into similar prices to last year, albeit they will still be €200/head to €250/head above what they made in the early years of this decade.

Heifers of both breeds peaked during the first week of March and averaged over €400/head since then.

While they performed well ahead of previous years, they are almost back to 2025 levels now with €136/head and €131/head wiped off Angus- and Hereford-cross heifers respectively since their peak six weeks ago.

Friesian bulls have been the most consistent sellers this spring – at no point has the average price for them fallen below €250/head.

They broke into that price range at the end of April last year and have remained there since.

With their numbers falling and it will be interesting to see how they fare from here to June and how much above their 2025 average price of €209/head they go.