Pics and prices: Calf prices ease back at Ballyjamesduff Mart

This week saw a decline in the numbers entered at Ballyjamesduff Mart’s weekly calf sale on Wednesday, March 11.

With some sailings cancelled this week due to poor weather being forecasted, it is resulting in the export market for calves taking a second knock within a month.

Following strict Covid-19 health and safety protocols, AgriLand attended this week’s sale to get an insight into how calves were trading at the Cavan-based mart.

Calves

On the day, 139 calves were presented for sale. There was a good mix of both young and reared types on offer.

The bulk of the calves on offer consisted of Angus and Hereford-cross types. There was a good showing of Friesian and Jersey calves also present.

There were only a small number of continental-cross calves on offer; however, these lots were in strong demand.

Calf prices on the day:

Angus bull calves: ranged from €120-295;
Angus heifer calves: ranged from €165-225;
Charolais bull calves: ranged from €370-540;
Limousin bull calves: ranged from €270-280;
Limousin heifer calves: ranged from €270-305;
Hereford bull calves: ranged from €255-290;
Hereford heifer calves: ranged from €255-265;
Belgian Blue bull calves: ranged from €280-350;
Friesian bull calves: ranged from €10-145;
Reared Friesian bull calves: ranged from €255-340;
Jersey crosses: ranged from €4-26.

Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture. Refer to each caption to see details of each lot, including the hammer price.

: Hereford heifer calf sold for €280

Starting off with continental-cross calves, these types sold from €270/head up to €540/head. Hereford and Angus-cross calves sold from €120/head up to €295/head.

: Limousin bull calf sold for €270

: Limousin bull calf sold for €305

: Belgian Blue bull calf sold for €330

Moving to the Friesian calves, plainer types sold from €10/head up to €70/head, while stronger Friesians calves sold from €75/head up to €145/head.

: Charolais bull sold for €540

: Angus bull calf sold for €290

Milking stock

Preceding the weekly calf sale was the dairy sale with 15 entries, with a mix of freshly-calved cows and maiden heifers.

Calved seven days, this Ayrshire cross Friesian made €1700

The breeds present included Friesians, Jersey crossbreds and some Ayrshires. Prices ranged from €2,440 for a three-week-calved Friesian cow with an economic breeding index (EBI) of €149 to €1,460 for a freshly-calved Jersey crossbred cow.

The maiden heifers consisting of mainly Friesians, made from €690 to a top price of €870.