It was yet another busy day in Bandon Mart, with 2,030 calves going through the ring and the sale continuing on into the early evening.
Auctioneer Denis O’Donoghue admitted that the Easter bank holiday sale drew extra numbers of calves, with 210 more than the same sale last year.
It added to the attendance too with extra farmer buyers noticeable.
He said: “Customers were up with a heap of online buyers. That was very active this week. The heavier calf over 65kg seemed to kick on again because of it.
"They were making up into €700 and €800 especially continentals and the bigger Angus and Hereford calves near weaning. Anything back of 50kg was still a tougher trade.”
Eight out of every 10 calves in Bandon Mart this week were sired by a beef bull, with half of them from Angus-cross calves alone. Along with Hereford-crosses, they accounted for 70% of all calves on offer at the west Cork venue.
Traditional beef breed-crosses from Friesian dams and weighing from 50kg to 65kg were generally selling for between €200 and €450 again this week. Similar weight continental-crosses were also purchased at those prices.
There was a notable bite for heavier calves with extra farmer customers about, and well-done Angus- and Hereford-cross calves over 75kg were capable of making over €650 with those close to weaning making up to €850.
Friesian numbers slip
The number of Friesians continues to fall off and they made up 20% of all calves on offer, back 5% on the same sale last year.
Prices are improved on last year, with shippers driving demand and willing to open heavier lots at €300.
Stronger calves close to and over 60kg were generally trading for between €300 and €370. Lighter Friesians were making between €240 to €300, while Friesian-crosses and light Friesians generally traded for between €130 to €220. For calves for the home market, up to €440 was paid for heavier ones.
There was also a special section for pedigree Friesian heifer calves this week and those on offer mostly sold for between €680 and €970, with a sale-topping price of €1,100 paid for an 11-week-old heifer with an EBI of €174.
