There was a 100% clearance rate at last week’s calf sale held in Central Auctions Birr Mart in Co Offaly.

Buyers purchasing calves for live export were more active than the previous week and, combined with the lower number of Friesian bull calves, this added more competition.

The general run of prices paid for Friesian bulls weighing from 50kg to 60kg ranged from €200 to €270/head.

A small number of light boned and smaller-framed lots and crossbred calves weighing back to 42kg sold from €150 to €190/head.

Prices paid for traditionally bred animals was also strongly influenced by calf quality and weight.

There was an Irish Hereford Prime promotion event as part of the sale, with prizes for breeders of the best Hereford bulls and heifers, while there was a prize for the buyer of the top-priced bull and heifer, which sold up to €650/head.

The general run of prices for Hereford-cross bull calves ranged from €405 to €530, with heifer calves from €350 to €480 on average.

Angus bulls weighing from 50kg to 55kg sold from €400 to €460/head, with a few lots of lighter calves and heifer calves back to €350/head. A top of €575 was paid for a top-quality Angus calf weighing 65kg.

Demand was solid for continental-cross calves. An entry of strong Belgian Blue calves weighing over 60kg sold from €550 to €640/head, with a few Limousin-cross calves from €450 to €600.

Simmental calves ranged from €430 for plainer-quality bull calves to €530 to €620 for stronger bull calves. Similarly light Aubrac-cross heifer calves sold from €330 upwards with bulls selling in excess of €450/head.

In pictures

These three Friesian-cross bulls weighing 53kg and born from 13/02/2026 to 20/02/2026 sold for €190 (€3.56/kg).

This first-prizewinning Hereford-cross bull calf weighing 75kg and born 01/03/2026 sold for €650 (€8.67/kg).

This pair of Hereford-cross heifers weighing 55kg and born 01/03/26 sold for €420 (€6.46/kg).

Weighing 60kg, this Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer born 17/02/2026 sold for €405 (€6.75/kg).

This pair of Aubrac-cross heifer calves weighing 55kg and born on 19/02/2026 and 20/02/2026 sold for €330 (€6/kg).

This 65kg Simmental-cross bull calf born 18/02/2026 sold for €530 (€8.15/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross bull calf weighing 60kg and born 20/02/2026 sold for €625 (€10.42/kg).

Four Friesian-cross bull calves averaging 50kg and born from 17/02/2026 to 20/02/2026 sold for €270 (€5.40/kg).

This second-prizewinning Hereford-cross heifer weighing 65kg and born 17/02/2026 sold for €480 (€7.38/kg).

This pair of Simmental-cross bulls weighing 60kg and born 01/03/2026 sold for €435 (€7.25/kg).

This quality Aberdeen Angus-cross bull calf weighing 65kg and born 01/03/2026 sold for €575.

This Hereford-cross bull calf weighing 60kg and born 11/02/2026 sold for €365 (€6.08/kg).

Four Angus-cross bulls weighing 63.3kg and born from 06/02/2026 to 10/02/2026 sold for €440 (€6.95/kg).

Four Friesian-cross bulls weighing 42kg and born from 16/02/26 to 20/02/26 sold for €150 (€3.53/kg).

Two Friesian-cross bulls with Jersey breeding weighing 60kg and born 01/02/26 sold for €255 (€4.25/kg).