In a somewhat different backdrop, Tuesday’s calf sale in Kilkenny Mart was a positive affair.

The mart had in place a drop-and-go system for sellers, so the ringside was accessible to buyers only who were well dispersed throughout the ringside gallery, although these alterations didn’t affect trade for the 500 calves offered for sale.

Commenting on prices, mart manager Michael Lynch said: “It was a flyer of a sale really. There was a sense that people were buying because they felt there might not be another sale for a while.”

Looking at MartBids analysis, Freisian bull calves averaged €60/head, with a typical range of €25 to €95 per head.

This Simmental-cross bull calf, born 6 January sold for €400.

Michael said these prices were €10 to €20 higher, driven by an anxiousness from exporters and their willingness to pay more.

A higher proportion of Angus and Hereford calves also met an improved trade, underpinned by more farmer buying.

This Limousin-cross bull calf, born 18 February sold for €275.

Angus bulls averaged €150/head and Hereford bulls averaged €200/head, with typical ranges of €65 to €225/head and €170 to €240/head respectively. Continental calves ranged from €250 to €350 each, with some stronger lots breaching €400/head.

Commission was generally €7/head to the buyer and €7/head to the seller.

This Hereford-cross heifer calf, born 1 March sold for €295.

This Friesian bull calf, born 17 February sold for €125