Last Monday’s calf and weanling sale at Castleisland Mart saw a strong entry of over 640 calves on the day. Mart manager Richard Hartnett said that there was good value for farmers buying good-quality Friesian bull calves.

With prices dropping back from the highs of early January, exporter activity had increased on the day. He said that numbers are well ahead of last year, but he is surprised that more farmers are not out buying calves with the current quota situation.

He said that shippers were most active for Friesian bulls from €80 to €90/head. Stronger calves sold from €100 to €110, with shippers sourcing these slightly older and stronger calves for the Spanish market.

Richard said that there was very good value to be had for strong farmer-type Friesian bull calves. He said he was slightly disappointed that there were not more farmer buyers at the ringside for these strong calves.

He said that good-quality three- to five-year-old types weighing around 60kg to 65kg sold from €120 to €160/head. The mart frequently attracts buyers from the west and midlands, mainly due to the fact that the cow type in the area is primarily British Friesian cross.

He said that demand for Angus and Hereford heifers is currently outstripping that for bull calves at the moment and prices are very strong. He thinks this strong demand is stemming mainly from farmers who are buying Hereford and Angus heifer calves, primarily to keep on as replacements.

Prices for Hereford and Angus calves were similar on the day and ranged mainly from €330 to €400/head. Angus and Hereford bull calves sold from €320 to €375/head.

Demand for continental calves remains extremely brisk according to Richard, driven by firm demand from suckler farmers buying replacements. Prices ranged mainly from €350 to €450/head on the day.

Calf sales gaining momentum in Thurles

Throughput of calves in Thurles Mart has increased significantly for the last two sales. While farmers were generally retaining calves for longer in January and February, manager Martin Ryan said many farmers have started to show calves quicker as they enter the main calving season.

Keen buyer demand has seen prices hold steady for similar quality calves, with farmers the main buyers here. However, Martin said a wide differential in price has developed due to a broad range in calf quality.

“The average price for Friesian bulls last Monday was €109. This does not give a clear picture on the trade, with a range from €10 to €330/head. Good-quality British Friesian calves continue to sell from €180 to €230, but there were more lighter Jersey and crossbred calves selling anywhere from €10 to €50,” he said.

The trend was similar across breed types, with calf quality dictating sale price. An entry of 30 Hereford bulls averaged €286/head, with a range of €220 to €280 for lighter or younger types, and from €330 to €370 for British Friesian types.

Angus bulls sold from a low of €100 to €200 for light calves, while good-quality lots sold from €300 to €350 and a top of €465 for an aged bull calf. Young Limousin and Blue bull calves sold for approximately €360 on average, or from €200 to a top of €460 for strong calves.

Hereford heifer calves sold from €220 to €320, while Angus calves sold from €150 to €340. Belgian Blue and Limousin heifer calves sold from €200 to €400, with a few exceptional lots selling to €450. Martin expects numbers to continue to grow with the calving season entering peak activity in the coming weeks.

Cork Marts ramping up live exports of calves

There has been a sharp rise in the volume of live exports of calves in the last two weeks. General manager livestock services John Humphreys explained that the increase in exports is coming on the back on a rapid lift in throughput in their mart centres in the last week.

“While sales were normally quiet for the first few weeks of the year, numbers have jumped massively in the last week. Bandon Mart had an entry of over 1,400 calves on Monday, well ahead of sales for the same week in 2014.

“We are responding to the rise in all our centres and this week we expect to export over 1,500 calves to the Netherlands and Spain.”

John explained that while farmers may have held on to calves for a few weeks longer at the start of the season, an expansion in herd size, earlier calving dates and a tighter calving spread are leading to calving facilities quickly being filled which will see calf throughput continue to swell.

“Thankfully, demand is relatively strong and we have been able to handle the higher numbers. The lower cost of milk powder is helping Dutch demand. A high volume of Spanish exports to Libya has left a shortage in supply and this is helping demand for stronger calves,” he said.

Restrictions on imports are limiting live exports to the Belgian market, but to date, strong Dutch and Spanish demand is making up for this.

John advised farmers that the specification for calves, especially in the Dutch market, is tight. He said Friesian calves need to be a minimum of 40kg for the Dutch market and have received a couple of weeks’ feeding.

Calves suitable for this market are currently selling from €60 to €80/head, while stronger calves for the Spanish market are selling from €90 to €110/head.