The calf trade continues to motor along nicely, with shipper demand remaining the main driver of prices, particularly for bull calves.

Prices are relatively stable for bull calves when it comes to the main breeds on offer.

Numbers continue to taper off, but there is still sale information from over 6,250 calves included in the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database this week.

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Traditional beef breeds accounted for 81% of all calves at marts, with the volume of Herefords up to 28% this week.

Hereford-cross bulls remain one of the few categories to keep their prices above last year so far for this spring’s trade, but they’re doing so only by the skin of their teeth.

They sold for an average of €468/head last week, a slip of €1/head. That’s €5/head over last year’s price. However, it is still a world away from the €196/head they traded for at this point in 2024.

Two years ago, Hereford-cross heifers traded for €135/head, whereas now they’re selling for an average of €349, a reduction of €4 on last week.

They dipped below 2025 prices recently and continue to trade for slightly under last year’s levels.

Calves sired by an Angus bull account for over half of all calves on offer and prices for bulls are back a little this week.

They averaged €443/head last week, a dip of €7. It’s €8 behind 12 months ago, but €262 over what they traded for in the middle of May 2024.

Angus-cross heifer calf prices lifted by €14/head to €330. That’s €20/head behind a year ago, but prices for them have come a long way from 2024 when they traded for €126.

Friesian bull calves have dipped down to 6% of the overall calf supply at present and sold for €291/head last week, back €4/head. A year ago, they made €280/head, while, looking back two years, they were selling for an average of €80/head in mid-May 2024.

Belgian Blue-crosses are powering ahead of last year. Bull calves sold for €584/head last week and are a comfortable €33/head over last year.

There’s a more positive story for heifers of the breed. They averaged €510/head last week, significantly above last year’s price of €428/head.