Peak calf sale season is now underway across the country, and to get an understanding of the calf trade, Agriland spoke with the manager of Enniscorthy Mart, Kevin Murphy.
Early reports had suggested a slow start to the sale of calves in 2024, with a number of reasons being sighted for this – including delays in the National Genotyping Programme.
But over the last week or so, issues appeared to have been solved and the numbers presenting for sale have been rising steadily.
Calf trade
Speaking to Agriland on the calf trade, Murphy said: “We had our largest calf sale of the year so far with just over 900 calves on offer.”
He noted that there were more Friesian bull calves than previous weeks, but that due to increased usage of sexed semen, there are a lot more coloured or beef bred calves on offer.
Murphy said that despite the big sale the trade is holding very well for all quality calves.
Commenting, he said: “There are plenty of farmers and agents looking for those well-fed calves.
“Angus and Hereford calves are making up the biggest proportion of the sale.”
Murphy also said that exporters are all active ringside, but the demand isn’t as strong due to a build up of calves waiting for export.
Starting with the Angus and Hereford calves, they sold anywhere from €100 for light calves up to €360 for a five-week-old Hereford-cross bull calf.
Some sample Hereford and Angus prices:
- A five-week-old Angus cross bull sold for €360;
- Four, three-week-old Hereford cross bulls sold for €220 each;
- Three, four-week-old Hereford cross bulls sold for €320 each;
- Two, two-week-old Hereford cross heifers sold for €250 each;
- Five, three-week-old Angus cross heifers sold for €120 each.
Looking at the continental calves, they sold from €150 for a Limousin cross heifer up to a top price of €475 for two-month-old Limousin cross bull calf.
Commenting on the trade, Murphy said: “There are some very strong customers for those continental calves.”
He noted that many of these buyers are local farmers and agents from surrounding counties.
Some sample Continental prices:
- A eight-week-old Limousin cross bull made €475;
- Three, four-week-old Belgian Blue cross heifers made €360 each;
- A four-week-old Limousin cross heifer made €400;
- Two, three-week-old Limousin cross bulls made €375 each;
- Three, four-week-old Belgian Blue cross heifers made €330 each;
- A four-week-old Belgian Blue cross bull made €250.
Commenting on the trade for Friesian bull calves, Murphy said that Friesian bulls are a tough trade in general, but particularly for those light and small-framed calves.
For the stronger type Friesian bull calves, prices from €45 up to €150 were achieved on the day, with a lot of these calves staying local.
The plainer or export type calves achieved prices from €5 up to €30, all of which were bought for export.
Murphy also said that there was a very small proportion which didn’t receive a bid and had to return home.
Some sample Friesian prices:
- Two, four-week-old Friesian bulls sold for €95 each;
- A four-week-old Friesian bulls sold for €85;
- A three-week-old Friesian bull sold for €55;
- Six, three-week-old Friesian bulls sold for €20 each;
- Four, three-week-old Friesian bulls sold for €10 each;
- Five, two-week-old Friesian bulls sold for €5 each.
Murphy said overall, a very good trade for all coloured calves, but light or plain Friesians are a tough sell.