The Mid Tipperary Co-Operative Livestock Mart (Thurles Mart) hosted its weekly calf sale on Wednesday (June 3), with 173 calves on offer - up from the 130 calves in the previous sale. 

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Thurles Mart manager Ciara Ryan said there was a 93% clearance rate in the sale with strong export buyer activity. 

This resulted in almost 70% of calves in the sale bought by exporters, with the smaller share of these going to customers in Northern Ireland. 

Export customers were paying from €320-€450/head for calves in the sale depending on breed, age and sex. 

Sample prices from the calf sale at Thurles Mart: 

Angus heifer calf born on April 27 made €360; 

Six-week-old Hereford bull made €670; 

Friesian bull born on April 21 made €250; 

Simmental bull born on March 3, made €550; 

Two Angus heifers born on May 3 and May 5 both made €280; 

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Ryan said: “we tend to see a stronger calf” as the sale season progresses.

She noted how the mart is seeing fewer younger calves around the three-week-old mark. 

The Thurles Mart manager highlighted the increase in the number of calves in the sale this week despite the downward trend in calf sale numbers nationally as we enter June

She attributed this to the good weather last week, which meant farmers were at silage in many cases and held off on selling calves due to time constraints. 

Price guide

The average price for Angus heifers was €361/head, while Angus bulls made €428 on average. 

Hereford bulls made €542 on average while Hereford heifers averaged €409. 

Belgian Blue heifers averaged €500 while Belgian Blue bulls made €466 on average. 

Commenting on the trade, Ryan noted that "price is holding relatively firm compared to the beef trade".

She added that the decrease in price from the early spring highs was to be expected, as demand and supply ease off as we move towards the summer months. 

Ryan is optimistic for the remaining sales and expects the calf trade to carry on in Thurles for another fortnight or three weeks, depending on demand.