Extra calves at marts has resulted in a 16% rise in calf throughput at Cork Marts venues this year compared to the same period in 2025.

Super demand both at home and in European outlets have driven calf prices to new levels and has resulted in more farmers using marts to sell their calves.

At the end of May 2022, 61,000 calves were traded across the six marts in the group. In the same time this year that figure stands at 103,000 calves, a lift of 69%.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, CEO, Jonathan O’Sullivan said: “Across the group, calves have seen the biggest momentum swing.

"Up until the end of May we sold 103,000 calves. In the same time in 2025 that figure was 89,000 and it’s up 25% compared to 2024. Trade is exceptional and that’s why we’ve seen more calves out at marts.”

Dutch ban

Regarding the recent news that the Netherlands is looking to stop buying Irish calves from 2028, O’Sullivan said: “It is a concern of course and it would be a big disruption, they’re a huge importer of our calves – our biggest by far – but we faced it before.

“We all thought it would be gone for this year when we were leading up to the Dutch deadline for IBR of 2026 for a number of years before that was put on the long finger. I’m sure there will be continued good efforts from Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture when it comes to ensuring that market remains an option.

“There are other issues such as around ferry companies and transport rules that could cause changes to happen far quicker.”

Exports to the Netherlands up 5%

Meanwhile, updated figures from Bord Bia show that the calf trade to the Netherlands is up 5% compared to last year.

For the first 23 weeks of the year, 82,951 Irish calves have been sold to the Dutch market.

This puts it over 17,000 above the second biggest outlet, Spain, which has been the destination for 65,704 calves so far thus year, a reduction of 8%.

Accounting for 18,990 calves, Italian buyers have increased their share by 15% compared to 2025.

Croatia at 9,335 head and Northern Ireland at 8,870 head round out the top five markets for Irish calves.