Cashel Mart hosted its first calf sale of 2021, attracting an entry of over 70 calves.
These consisted of calves aged between two and three weeks of age, with prices reaching as high as €315.
Given these were some of the first sold in the area, numbers of beef-sired calves were small, but dominated the prices.
The first lots into the ring came from the Limousin breed, which saw heifer calves range from €310 to €320/head.
These were pushing on three weeks of age, with buyers actively looking for calves showing any few extra days.
Male calves
Limousin male calves had a small offering of calves, with a batch of three rising two-week-old calves selling for €210/head.
Angus calves also rose as high as €315/head. This was paid for a nicely made three-week-old bull calf.
Overall, Angus bull calves started at €195/head, with an average of €250 paid across the board for an average age of 15 days.
A small entry of Angus females sold for an average of €220/head.
Herefords
Hereford bull calves started at €150 and peaked at €280. Average for whitehead bulls settled at €225 for near-two-week-old calves.
The Hereford heifers performed that bit higher, with the average settling at €255.
These ranged from €240/head up to €280, with an average age of around two weeks.
No Friesian heifers were offered, but males sold for an average price of €55/head.
Prices for bulls started at €20 and went as high as €135.
A strong export market secured a number of bulls up to €65/head.
Two Salers bull calves were offered for sale and sold for an average of €225.
Overall, the sale reported a 96% clearance rate.
