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Demand is high for dairy in-calf heifers as farmers stock up for next season. Most of the sales to date have been farm-to-farm moves, with demand highest in the midlands and east.
Pat Carroll from Grasstec said high EBI and AI-bred in-calf heifers are easily making €1,300 to €1,400/head. Heifers with a lower EBI or out of stock bulls are harder to shift.
“It’s all about EBI now, whereas a few years ago the difference in price between a lower EBI and a higher EBI heifer was less. It’s a good thing as it shows people have faith in the system,” Carroll said.
Top prices are being achieved for heifers with EBIs greater than €180 for Holstein Friesians and greater than €150 for Jerseys.
Carroll said a lot of the demand is coming from beef farmers converting to dairy. Typically, these buyers are looking for Holstein Friesian heifers with those setting up second units looking for Jersey crossbred heifers.
Lower-EBI heifers and heifers out of stock bulls are finding a tougher trade.
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