Camera at the Mart: demand for bull calves strengthens as supply slips in Bandon

Four out of every five calves on offer in Bandon for this week's sale were sired by traditional beef breed bulls, with Angus-cross calves accounting for 57% of the 1,355 calves on offer.

This is back about 150 head on last week and 100 calves lower for the second May sale in 2025, marking the first time of the year that numbers at the west Cork venue dropped below last year’s levels.

While last week’s bank holiday sale drew out an extra number of farmer buyers, demand from shippers drove the trade this Monday, especially when it came to bull calves.

After the sale, auctioneer Denis O’Donoghue said: “We had a great trade to be fair. Bulls were very dear, shippers were way more active for them compared to heifers and that drove prices on for bull calves.

"As a guide, your 70kg beef bull calf was making €680 to €750, while heifers were closer to €5/kg for the most part.

We had very few lighter calves, but Bandon traditionally wouldn’t have a lot of lighter calves anyway, but what was here were a good trade.”

European demand

Angus- and Hereford-cross bull calves across the weight ranges were generally trading for between €300 and €750, with demand from European markets a big driver of prices.

Conditions were tougher for heifer calves of both breeds, with less appetite for them in comparison with the bulls.

Most beef-cross heifer calves from 50kg to 80kg changed hands for between €220 and €550, with a shade more available for those weighing closer to 100kg.

Continental-cross calves were scarcer this week and prices for them were similar to Angus- and Hereford-crosses.

There were 140 Friesian or Friesian-crosses on offer and trade for lighter calves under 70kg tended to vary from €160 to €345. For those closer to weaning or weaned, €400 to €550 was paid.