The dispersal sale of the Greenhills herd on Wednesday, April 23 saw 21 heifer calves sold on the day, with one heifer calf making an astonishing €2,200.

We know that calves in general this year have been making good money, but these high economic breeding index (EBI) calves with elite breeding blew this year's national average Friesian heifer calf price out of the water.

It seems likely that a shortage of dairy heifer calves in the country will be looming in the coming years, which may be having a huge impact on demand and prices being made.

The drop in dairy female calf registrations is a concerning trend, as number are down significantly - by 38,000 compared to this time last year.

This amounts to a 11.5% drop in 2025, which will have a knock-on effect on replacement heifers available in 2027, meaning that the demand for dairy heifer calves, maiden heifers, and in-calf heifers may only increase.

The heifer calves sold on the day came from a herd with an EBI of €257, which is in the top 6% of the country, and produced a herd average of 6,661kg of milk with 4.43% fat and 3.88% protein adding up to 553kg of milk solids (MS)/cow.

The herd has also sold seven young bulls to Progressive Genetics in the last couple of years with the most notable being Greenhills Ballintosig (FR7907) with an EBI of €337.

Heifer calf prices are as follows:

The heifer calf from Greenhills Stark Rose that sold for €1,100 was born on April 4, and her dam also produced Greenhills Starkey (FR1988) sold to Progressive Genetics inn 2024.

Greenhills Vincent Becky is the dam of Progressive Genetics' Greenhills Ballintosig with EBI of €337 and is the top high EBI proven artificial insemination (AI) sire.

The dam of the calf that made €2,200 Greenhills Lexy Becky, got injured and was sold by the farmer.