Around 1,000 calves were traded in MartBids marts over the last week, with Kilkenny Mart, Ennis Mart in Co Clare and Carnew Mart in Co Wicklow putting through large numbers.

Giving a breakdown on numbers, over 60% of those calves were male. By breed, as expected, there has been a growing proportion of dairy-beef-bred calves as calving wind down on dairy farms.

Of the male calves sold this week, Angus-cross calves accounted for 25% and Hereford-crosses accounted for a further 30%.

Thirty-four percent were Friesian and Friesian-cross.

Prices

Table 1 shows the average prices for male calves, as well as the average of the top-third of prices and the bottom-third of prices, to show the typical range, depending on quality. Table 2 takes on a similar format, but for heifer calves.

According to the MartBids data, looking at the trends in prices, Frieisan and Friesian-cross bull calves moved up by €5/head.

Angus-cross bull calves were up by €15/head on average, while Hereford-cross calves were back by the same amount.