We are coming to the end of March now, and the likelihood is that all the dairy replacement calves are on the ground and farmers may have surplus replacement heifers or they might not have enough to have a decent replacement rate in two year’s time.

Typically, farmers will carry a 22-23% replacement rate of calves, in order to have an 18-20% replacement rate of good quality heifers coming through in two years time.

So, it’s not unusual at this time of year that farmers who find themselves a few calves short or may have cut it too tight and have no leeway for calves getting sick, fall behind target, don’t go in calf as heifers, or have a blind quarter once calved.

This is why it is important that farmers carry a few extra heifers as calves through, otherwise they might not have enough replacements in two year’s time.

The 159th Carnaross dairy sale took place on Wednesday, March 19 which saw 164 fresh calved heifers and cows demand high prices and was followed by the same appetite for 16 high economic breeding index (EBI) calves.

Sample prices of the heifer calves on sale at Carnaross mart are as follows:

EBI of €267 with dam at 3.52% protein made €460

The farmer selling the calves had freshly calved heifers and cows making over €2,600/head in the sale with fine production figures to back them up, so the calves were well sought after.

More sample prices of the calves are as follows:

EBI of €260 with dam at 3.63% protein made €320

It was clear on the day that heavier type calves, regardless of EBI or their dam’s production figures, were making the best money as many farmers will be looking to wean and get calves out to grass as soon as possible.

The last few calves to go through the ring continued to see a good demand as follows:

EBI of €200 with dam at 3.66% protein made €410

EBI of €285 with dam at 3.78% protein made €370

The 16 calves averaged a price of €430 and were all sold on the day in which Auctioneer for Taaffe Auctions Ltd, Michael Taaffe said the seller was “very satisfactory”.

Taaffe commented on the quality of calves that went through the ring and said they were matched with a strong appetite and said that “the good milk price is really spurring farmers on” to buy quality stock.

The table below details the average price paid across the country for Friesian calves by sex and age in the week ending March 15:

Sire breed	Sex	Age range	Number of calves	Average age (days)	Average price (€)	Number with recorded weight	Average weight (kg)
Friesian	M	<21 days	227	18	146	26	55
	M	21-42 days	772	28	166	215	57
	F	<21 days	12	16	315	0	0
	F	21-42 days	57	29	271	2	55

Source: ICBF

Friesian bull calves below 21 days of age sold for an average price of €146/head last week with Friesian bulls from 21-42 days making an average price of €166/head.

Friesian heifer calves below 21 days of age sold for an average price of €315/head last week with Friesian heifers from 21-42 days making an average price of €277/head.

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