Calf numbers in Bandon Mart took a big jump, with 2,000 calves on offer this week. Mart manager Tom McCarthy said: “We’re up about 300 calves on this day last year, but this is the way things are going. It might seem like a big number of calves, but we were finished selling for four o’clock.”

Tom added: “You can also see that the extra little bit of milk is standing to them. Lighter Friesians are making €70 to €90/head, while comrades that are stronger having got more feeding are making €130 to €150. There are plenty buyers for the good Friesian bull calf or anything quality. That extra week is making the difference.”

Prices ranged from €70 to €130 for export-type Friesian bull calves, with stronger bulls making up to €195 and runners making up to €250.

There was good demand for Friesian heifer calves. These made from €250 to €420. There was a solid trade for traditional beef breed-crosses, with bull calves selling for between €125 and €370.

Hereford and Angus heifers sold for between €120 and €310. Continentals were very scarce, with heifers making from €220 to €360, while continental bulls made between €250 and €430/head.

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Flying trade for short-keep and factory-fit stock