The lack of ship activity is having a negative impact on the trade for the plainer export type Friesian bull calves, according to the Manager of Bandon Mart Tom McCarthy.
In recent weeks, McCarthy said that the boat to Spain and the Netherlands has been forced to cancel voyages due to poor weather conditions.
McCarthy said that this is causing the price for the plainer-type Friesian bull calf to fall by as much as €10/head.
He also said that the ship, which had been expected to travel from Dungarvan this week, has been canceled, which didn’t help the trade for the plainer Friesian bull calves today in Bandon Mart.
The Mart Manager said the calf numbers are beginning to creep up in Bandon Mart, as over 1,600 calves passed through the ring today.
He said that the very plain type Friesian bull calf sold from €40-75 each, while calves destined for Spain traded at €70-120.
He added that farmers are currently purchasing the better quality Friesian bull calves at €130-180 each.
McCarthy also said that the Angus and Hereford bull and heifer calves continue to remain in good demand. The best of these lots made €300-360, while the poorer quality lots traded from €200-260.
Calf numbers are also beginning to reach their peak in Macroom Mart, according to the Mart Manager John O’Mahony.
There were over 600 calves on offer on Saturday, he said, which was up by approximately 100 head on the previous week.
Despite previous predictions that calf values would fall when additional numbers came on stream, he said that the prices being paid are holding up well at the minute.
He said that good quality calves are continuing to make good money, but the very plain lots are a little easier than previous weeks.
O’Mahony said that the better shaped calf is heading to Spain, while exports are purchasing the plain Friesian calf for the veal market in the Netherlands.
There were 100 calves on offer in Carnew Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart Manager David Quinn, with a strong demand reported for the continental calves on offer.
Continental calves sold well in the Co. Wicklow venue, he said, with the hammer falling on the bull calves from €290-500, while the continental heifers made €225-450 each. However, he said the young Friesian bull calves were a little easier than the previous week, with the plainer lots trading from €30-50, but the strong Friesian bulls made €60-180.
Well-fed Friesian calves continued to remain in demand in Tullow Mart on Friday, according to the Mart Manager Eric Driver.
Driver said there were 65 calves on offer and the strong Friesian and continental calves met a steady trade, but the lighter shipping calves were a little harder to sell.
The Friesian bull calf suitable for the export market made €30-80, while the better quality Friesian bull calves sold from €100-250, he said.
The tops of the Hereford and Angus bull calves sold for €240, while the best of the Limousin bull calves made €470.
Heifer calves also attracted plenty of buyers, with the best of the Angus and Herefords making up to €200, while the hammer fell on the best-price Limousin heifer calf at €415, he said.
Continental calves were very scarce among the 200 calves on offer in Kilkenny Mart on Tuesday, according to the Mart Auctioneer George Candler.
Candler said there were a limited number of Angus and Hereford calves on offer and as a result these lots sold well. Bull calves made €230-350 each, while their counterpart heifers traded from €170-365.
He added that continental calves also sold well. The hammer fell on the bull calves from €300-470 each, while the similar type heifers made €180-320, he said.
The plainer Friesian bull calves were also a little easier in Kilkenny Mart, with the hammer falling on these lots from €30-100 each. The better quality bulls made €130-220.
Calf trade round up
Carnew Mart
Tullow Mart
Kilkenny Mart