There is an insatiable appetite for autumn-born calves.

This was clearly evident in New Ross Mart, Co Wexford, on Saturday where 75 young calves and a handful of reared lots sold at lightning speed.

A dozen good-quality Aubrac-cross bull and heifer calves started the sale strongly, with prices for bull calves averaging €824/head.

Heifer calves were not far behind at €743/head average.

There was a similar trend to prices for all continental-cross calves, with these ranging in the main from €700 to €850.

A couple of lots sold back to €600, while, likewise, a Limousin bull calf topped prices for young calves at €920.

Manager Richard Kirwan said demand from farmers and exporters outstripped supply for Angus-crosses and Hereford-crosses.

Angus-cross bull calves sold for €689/head on average (€610 to €820), with heifers at €719/head average (€640 to €850).

Hereford-cross bull calves recorded a fine average of €640/head, ranging from €495 to €790, while Hereford-cross heifers averaged €448/head (€300 to €640).

Friesian bulls averaged at €312/head, with prices from €215 to €425. A handful of June-born Simmental heifers averaged €1,000/head, with Angus heifers at €760/head.

In pictures

This Hereford-cross bull calf, aged 19 days of age, sold for €590.

This Hereford-cross bull calf, aged 16 days old, sold for €690.

This 25-day-old Aberdeen Angus-cross bull calf sold for €700.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer, aged one month and seven days old, sold for €850.

This 30-day-old Simmental-cross bull calf sold for €750.

This nice-quality 18-day-old Aubrac-cross calf sold for €765.

This lighter-framed 16-day-old Hereford-cross heifer calf sold for €360.

This 15-day-old Hereford-cross bull calf sold for €650.

This Simmental-cross bull, aged 30 days old, sold for €620.

This Aubrac-cross bull calf, aged 19 days old, sold for €800.

This 11-day-old Aubrac-cross bull calf sold for €820.

This nice-quality 18-day-old Aubrac-cross calf sold for €765.

This 17-day-old Aubrac-cross bull calf sold for €715.