Mart managers reported a lift in prices for beef-cross calves over the last week and those reports are backed up on the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database, with a lift across the board.

A falling supply may have a lot to do with that, as numbers are almost half of what they were earlier in the month and demand from the continent is helping to keep a solid floor under the trade.

There was more bite for bull calves, with Angus-crosses up €24/head on average and Hereford bulls making €28/head more than last week. They sold for an average of €426/head and €461/head respectively.

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Both categories remain ahead of their 2025 prices, with Angus-cross bulls making €389/head and Hereford-cross bulls selling for €401/head at what were viewed as record prices at the time.

There has been a recovery in price for traditional beef breed-cross heifers too, but at a slightly lower rate.

Angus-cross heifers sold for an average of €287/head last week, up €15, while Hereford-crosses sold for €9/head extra at an average of €319.

Prices for Hereford-cross heifers is similar to this time last year at €316/head and well ahead of the €109 price of 2024.

Angus-cross heifers are a softer trade compared with this time last year and are €18/head behind their 2025 price of €305, but significantly ahead of 2024 when they sold for an average price of €96.

Angus-crosses continue to dominate numbers and made up half of all calves on offer, with one quarter of all calves sired by a Hereford bull.

Friesian bulls are just about making up 10% of all on offer and those aged between three and six weeks of age saw their price go up by €20/head to €296/head.

This is €53/head above their price at the end of April last year and €224/head over what they made in the same week of 2024.

Belgian Blue-crosses are still out in front when it comes to the most popular of the continental-cross calves and made up 6% of all calves sold.

Bulls averaged €568/head over the last week, an increase of €63, while heifer calves were €54/head dearer this week. They traded for an average of €54/head.