Camera at the Mart: Friesian calf prices holding

The calf trade in Bandon Mart settled down this Monday a good bit compared with the highs witnessed there last week.

There was also an increase in numbers, with 500 calves on offer.

With beef prices seemingly moving on a weekly basis, it would be worth keeping up to date on calf prices.

The last three weeks in the ring in Bandon have shown that for some classes of calves they can be steady and for others they are capable of fluctuating wildly, at least until the bigger numbers become available as March approaches.

Friesian bulls dominated the numbers and when it came to the trade, they appeared to be the most stable class of calves on the market too.

Up in price compared with last week, yet again only a small number of Friesian bulls sold for under €100, mostly those under 50kg or those with FRX on the card.

The main run of export-type calves made from €70 to €160, with up to €225 available for stronger bull calves under six weeks of age.

Outliers

There were a few outliers on the FRX side, with a one-month-old red Friesian from a Fleckvieh cow making €320 and an 81kg bull from a similar age and cross making €415.

Angus- and Hereford-cross prices came back to earth a bit following the sky-high prices of last week.

A few breached €400 on occasion, but there were more making from €200 to €300 compared with last Monday. Those that were available were lighter than seven days ago too.

Most of those over 55kg hit into that price bracket or over it. There were notable exceptions - mainly a lot of eight five-week-old Angus-cross heifers that weighed 49kg and sold for €245. That’s €5/kg for anyone more in tune with weanling prices.

A share of heavier calves over 80kg broke €400 and made up to €530 again, but these calves were a lot closer to weaning than what was on show on the St Brigid's bank holiday sale.

Lighter Angus- and Hereford-crosses or those with FRX or JEX dams mainly sold for the same prices as Friesian bulls.

Continental calves were scarcer this week and trade for them resembled that of the traditional beef-crosses.

Heavier calves were comfortably making €400 to €600, with a number breaking this too, but these were usually closer to €100.