Calf numbers at marts are almost 3,000 head over what they were for the same week last year.
While calf prices have been a major talking point this spring, they’re not the only thing that is running above 2025 levels at calf sales as data from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database shows.
This week’s calf price table carries data from 7,538 calves, significantly above the 4,637 calves on offer in the same week last year and 3,224 calves in 2024.
Friesian bull calf supply was up nearly 1,500 head compared to sales in the third week of February last year with 3,426 Friesian bull calves traded at marts over the last week.
Prices for them have been relatively stable with prices rising €2/head for both those aged 10 to 20 days and older calves aged between three and six weeks of age. Younger Friesian bulls averaged €246/head and while older calves traded for €288/head.
Demand remains especially strong for both Angus- and Hereford-cross bull calves along with continental-crosses.
For those aged three to six weeks of age, Angus-cross bulls averaged €559/head, an increase of €72/head on last week and Hereford-cross bull sold for an average of €568/head, up €44/head on the previous week.
Available in smaller numbers, Belgian Blue- and Charolais-cross bulls the same age traded for €648/head and €659/head respectively.
‘There’s a good solid trade for calves’
There were 1,585 calves in Bandon Mart on Monday and manager, Seán Denenhy said that all indications are that they will be close to or over 2,000 calves there at next week’s sale.
“There’s a good solid trade there at the moment and farmers are underpining it.
“They want the good-reared healthy calves and we’re seeing Angus and Hereford calves weighing around 60kg making €500 to €600.
Those lesser quality calves close to 40kg are not doing the business and this week with no shipping it impacted prices for the lighter calf around 50kg.”
He has also noticed more farmers selling in marts this spring.
“Good prices are bringing farmers that were never selling here to the mart. That and farmers calving a bit closer to grass mean we’re getting bigger volumes of calves out at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Irish calf prices are running ahead of the EU average according to recent data from the European Commission.
The EU average price for dairy-sired calves stood at €259/head for the second week of February. At €504/head, Irish beef-cross calves are well ahead of the EU average of €451/head.
Calf numbers at marts are almost 3,000 head over what they were for the same week last year.
While calf prices have been a major talking point this spring, they’re not the only thing that is running above 2025 levels at calf sales as data from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database shows.
This week’s calf price table carries data from 7,538 calves, significantly above the 4,637 calves on offer in the same week last year and 3,224 calves in 2024.
Friesian bull calf supply was up nearly 1,500 head compared to sales in the third week of February last year with 3,426 Friesian bull calves traded at marts over the last week.
Prices for them have been relatively stable with prices rising €2/head for both those aged 10 to 20 days and older calves aged between three and six weeks of age. Younger Friesian bulls averaged €246/head and while older calves traded for €288/head.
Demand remains especially strong for both Angus- and Hereford-cross bull calves along with continental-crosses.
For those aged three to six weeks of age, Angus-cross bulls averaged €559/head, an increase of €72/head on last week and Hereford-cross bull sold for an average of €568/head, up €44/head on the previous week.
Available in smaller numbers, Belgian Blue- and Charolais-cross bulls the same age traded for €648/head and €659/head respectively.
‘There’s a good solid trade for calves’
There were 1,585 calves in Bandon Mart on Monday and manager, Seán Denenhy said that all indications are that they will be close to or over 2,000 calves there at next week’s sale.
“There’s a good solid trade there at the moment and farmers are underpining it.
“They want the good-reared healthy calves and we’re seeing Angus and Hereford calves weighing around 60kg making €500 to €600.
Those lesser quality calves close to 40kg are not doing the business and this week with no shipping it impacted prices for the lighter calf around 50kg.”
He has also noticed more farmers selling in marts this spring.
“Good prices are bringing farmers that were never selling here to the mart. That and farmers calving a bit closer to grass mean we’re getting bigger volumes of calves out at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Irish calf prices are running ahead of the EU average according to recent data from the European Commission.
The EU average price for dairy-sired calves stood at €259/head for the second week of February. At €504/head, Irish beef-cross calves are well ahead of the EU average of €451/head.
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