Just when it appeared calf numbers were starting on a downward slope, there was a recovery in Bandon Mart this week, with 2,313 going through the ring at this Monday's sale.
That’s a lift of about 810 on last Monday and up 650 head on the same sale last year.
Just like the same week's sale in April last year, traditional beef breeds made up three-quarters of all calves on offer.
A price range of between €200 and €500 has become the going rate for most calves weighing between 50kg and 70kg since early March and that still applies, with most lighter heifers moving at the lower half of that price range.
As demand eases somewhat from farmer buyers and shippers beginning to dominate trade, a larger number of heavier calves - those over 70kg - are selling for less than €500.
To hit the higher prices at this stage of the season, a calf has a better chance if they’re closer to or over 80kg.
Some Angus- and Hereford-crosses of these weights were capable of making more than €700, but, for the most part, they sold for between €550 and €650, with continental-crosses following a similar trend.
Friesians
While Friesian numbers are slipping, there was still almost 300 on offer and heavier calves were making from €350 to €430 for the most part, with a few exceptions selling outside this range.
Friesian heifer calves were trading along similar lines. The main body of Friesian bull calves weighing from 55kg to 65kg traded for between €270 and €340, while lighter calves closer to 50kg traded below this range.
Depending on the breed of their dam and where they were on a scale from 40kg to 50kg, they sold from €90 to €220.
This five-week-old Angus-cross heifer with a CBV of €109 weighed 59kg and sold for €360.
These five-week-old Aubrac- and Hereford-cross heifers with CBVs ranging from -€28 to €99 weighed 48kg and sold for €240.
This six-week-old Friesian bull with a CBV of -€77 weighed 86kg and sold for €400.
These five-week-old Aubrac-cross bulls with CBVs of €174 and €178 weighed 70kg and sold for €500.
This one-month-old Hereford-cross bull weighed 54kg and sold for €300.
These five-week-old Angus-cross heifers with CBVs ranging from €119 to €183 weighed 72kg and sold for €460.
These five-week-old Hereford-cross heifers with CBS of -€55 and €66 weighed 63kg and sold for €280.
This five-week-old Belgian Blue-cross bull weighed 75kg and sold for €600.
These five-week-old Hereford-cross heifers with CBVs of €143 and €182 weighed 61kg and sold for €280.
These six-week-old Angus-cross heifers with CBVs ranging from €70 to €196 weighed 82kg and sold for €550.
This one-month-old Hereford-cross heifer with a CBV of €57 weighed 46kg and sold for €190.
These six-week-old Angus-cross bulls with CBVs ranging from €75 to €120 weighed 63kg and sold for €490.
These six-week-old Hereford-cross bulls weighed 98kg and sold for €730.
These six-week-old Hereford-cross heifers weighed 93kg and sold for €520.
These five-week-old Friesian bulls weighed 70kg and sold for €400.
This five-week-old Angus-cross bull weighed 79kg and sold for €720.
These one-month-old Friesian heifers weighed 53kg and sold for €350.
This three-week-old Friesian bull weighed 63kg and sold for €330.
This five-week-old Angus-cross bull with a CBV of €136 weighed 58kg and sold for €465.
These six-week-old Friesian bulls with CBVs of -€69 and €23 weighed 56kg and sold for €295.
These five-week-old Friesian bulls with CBVs ranging from -€64 to €48 weighed 43kg and sold for €125.
These five-week-old Shorthorn-cross bulls with a CBV of €115 weighed 53kg and sold for €315.
These six-week-old Friesian-cross bulls with CBVS of -€52 and -€24 weighed 47kg and sold for €140.
Just when it appeared calf numbers were starting on a downward slope, there was a recovery in Bandon Mart this week, with 2,313 going through the ring at this Monday's sale.
That’s a lift of about 810 on last Monday and up 650 head on the same sale last year.
Just like the same week's sale in April last year, traditional beef breeds made up three-quarters of all calves on offer.
A price range of between €200 and €500 has become the going rate for most calves weighing between 50kg and 70kg since early March and that still applies, with most lighter heifers moving at the lower half of that price range.
As demand eases somewhat from farmer buyers and shippers beginning to dominate trade, a larger number of heavier calves - those over 70kg - are selling for less than €500.
To hit the higher prices at this stage of the season, a calf has a better chance if they’re closer to or over 80kg.
Some Angus- and Hereford-crosses of these weights were capable of making more than €700, but, for the most part, they sold for between €550 and €650, with continental-crosses following a similar trend.
Friesians
While Friesian numbers are slipping, there was still almost 300 on offer and heavier calves were making from €350 to €430 for the most part, with a few exceptions selling outside this range.
Friesian heifer calves were trading along similar lines. The main body of Friesian bull calves weighing from 55kg to 65kg traded for between €270 and €340, while lighter calves closer to 50kg traded below this range.
Depending on the breed of their dam and where they were on a scale from 40kg to 50kg, they sold from €90 to €220.
This five-week-old Angus-cross heifer with a CBV of €109 weighed 59kg and sold for €360.
These five-week-old Aubrac- and Hereford-cross heifers with CBVs ranging from -€28 to €99 weighed 48kg and sold for €240.
This six-week-old Friesian bull with a CBV of -€77 weighed 86kg and sold for €400.
These five-week-old Aubrac-cross bulls with CBVs of €174 and €178 weighed 70kg and sold for €500.
This one-month-old Hereford-cross bull weighed 54kg and sold for €300.
These five-week-old Angus-cross heifers with CBVs ranging from €119 to €183 weighed 72kg and sold for €460.
These five-week-old Hereford-cross heifers with CBS of -€55 and €66 weighed 63kg and sold for €280.
This five-week-old Belgian Blue-cross bull weighed 75kg and sold for €600.
These five-week-old Hereford-cross heifers with CBVs of €143 and €182 weighed 61kg and sold for €280.
These six-week-old Angus-cross heifers with CBVs ranging from €70 to €196 weighed 82kg and sold for €550.
This one-month-old Hereford-cross heifer with a CBV of €57 weighed 46kg and sold for €190.
These six-week-old Angus-cross bulls with CBVs ranging from €75 to €120 weighed 63kg and sold for €490.
These six-week-old Hereford-cross bulls weighed 98kg and sold for €730.
These six-week-old Hereford-cross heifers weighed 93kg and sold for €520.
These five-week-old Friesian bulls weighed 70kg and sold for €400.
This five-week-old Angus-cross bull weighed 79kg and sold for €720.
These one-month-old Friesian heifers weighed 53kg and sold for €350.
This three-week-old Friesian bull weighed 63kg and sold for €330.
This five-week-old Angus-cross bull with a CBV of €136 weighed 58kg and sold for €465.
These six-week-old Friesian bulls with CBVs of -€69 and €23 weighed 56kg and sold for €295.
These five-week-old Friesian bulls with CBVs ranging from -€64 to €48 weighed 43kg and sold for €125.
These five-week-old Shorthorn-cross bulls with a CBV of €115 weighed 53kg and sold for €315.
These six-week-old Friesian-cross bulls with CBVS of -€52 and -€24 weighed 47kg and sold for €140.
SHARING OPTIONS