David Quinn, Carnew
“We’re probably running at 10% to 15% ahead week-on-week compared to last year and we had 320 calves at our last standalone calf sale of the year recently, whereas last year it was 200.
“There’s a great quality of calf out there now and a standout for me is the farmer who fed his calf well and brought them out particularly those with the continentals.
“Some of them are averaging €600 to €700. The farmer doing a good job is getting phenomenal money for their calves now.
“ The last month or six weeks it’s predominantly driven by agents and exporters and they’re competing very strongly are prices rose again late on.
“Those stronger bull calves are coming into €750 now and some continentals are looking at €900.”
Neilus McAuliffe, Castleisland Mart
“It was a fantastic spring for calves, with milk price not as good, dairy farmers held onto calves for a week extra and it paid them well.
“They had good strong calves coming out and if they didn’t get it from co-op, they got it from the calves.
“We came off a very high price year in 2025 and this was a great year as prices were steady all through and a fine trade.
“From €500 to €700 for younger bull calves and we were seeing a lot of them Whiteheads and Pollys were making up to €10/kg in March and April.
“In early spring, Friesian calves were making €300 and a good thick British Friesian €400 to €450. To see them making up to €600 then in June, it was a great turn around for them.”
Richard Kirwan, New Ross Mart
“It’s been unbelievable to be honest, even better than last year. We had continental calves making over €1,100 at peak, Friesians were scarcer, even at peak there probably wasn’t as many as other years and we saw more Angus too.
“More calves stayed in the country compared to other years, as farmers were buying earlier.
“The shippers really kicked into gear in April so the competition for calves moved on again once the farmer buyers dried up around the middle of March.
“We got more numbers than any other year and that was due to the strong price in the mart, that meant farmers weren’t going to sell them at home.”
Ciara Ryan Thurles Mart
“The continental side of it dried up in May but early on there were much more of them out than usual.
“I think farmers saw the good prices last year and were more selective with their breeding.
“Cows got Belgian Blue or Charolais AI in the first weeks of breeding if they weren’t a cow to keep a replacement from.
“Trade overall was good and this spring was probably the opposite to last year as it started strong and then it plateaued but to a very good level.
“Last year prices went up and up,” she said.
“I think a big positive was people holding on to the calves and putting weight onto them rather than being ready to go once the card came back.
“We had a lot of farmer buyers early on but it’s mainly been the shippers from the beginning of April.
“They’re buying roughly 60 to 70% the last two months.”
Seán Dennehy, Bandon Mart
“The very high prices of €9/kg to €10/kg being paid for Angus bulls and €7/kg to €8/kg for heifers early on was one of the highlights.
“The high beef price at the time drove that, other things that stood out were there were more continental calves out earlier than we’d seen before and also the prices for runners in recent weeks.
“Friesians were solid throughout and of the beef calves, bulls were the most consistent while heifers took a dip every now and then but there were very good prices throughout.
“Farmers were out earlier than before and they were the main buyers in January and into early March. Shippers really kicked into gear from then on.
“You couldn’t pass without remarking how much all calves have improved in the last two years.
“It’s very rare to see a bad calf in a mart now and farmers are doing a great job. In the big drive for dairy expansion, calves were kind of ignored compared to now.
“Since 2015 there’s been a huge shift to better facilities and there’s better calves turned out and people are getting great prices for their calves,” he said.
