There were 130 calves on offer at Mid-Kerry Co-op Mart in Milltown for their weekly calf sale, which took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, 10 March.
Friesians made up half of what was on offer at the Kerry venue and trade was solid throughout, with a large proportion of them selling for between €200 and €325.
There were a few that exceeded this price range, with €365 paid out for a one-month-old calf weighing 72kg and a sale high of €520.
Beef-crosses made up the other half of the sale with traditional beef breeds dominating. Prices of €300 to €520 were the going rate for most of calves that weighed up to 65kg
A five-week-old Angus-cross bull weighing 84kg was the sale topper as he made €700, while the highest price Hereford-cross sold for €670.
Mart manager Linda Daly reported that shippers weren’t as active, but farmers made up for it with strong bidding at the ringside and online especially for stronger calves.
Following the sale, she said: “Calves are a lot stronger coming to the mart this year, farmers are putting more milk into them and they are reaping the rewards with great prices. It’s some difference. Last year Friesain bulls over 48kg were making €€120 to €170, whereas this year they’re making €230 to €320.
Nobody wanted those calves two years ago, and if they made €10 or €30 the farmers were happy to accept it.
Calves are coming out a bit later to us this year, with farmers reporting delays in genotyping and getting cards back.”
With St Patrick’s Day on next Tuesday, the calf sale in Milltown will take place at 4.30pm on Monday 16 March.
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