Calves were the standout performer at Carnew Mart’s cattle sale on Saturday, with the average price of bull and heifer calves increasing by €50 to €70 per head.

Manager David Quinn reported that live exporters and customers from Northern Ireland were keen to get their hands on higher numbers, which led to great competition at the ringside and a full clearance.

The top third of an entry of about 140 bull calves were up €120 on the previous week to average €763/head, with quality continental calves aged one to three months of age selling from €800 to upwards of €1,000/head.

ADVERTISEMENT

An entry of quality Charolais-cross heifers sold from €650 to €800/head.

The general run of prices for Angus-crosses and Hereford-crosses ranged from €320 to €520/head, with a small number back to €250. Some reared calves sold to €600/head.

There was a wide range in the quality of Friesian bull calves, with prices for light-boned and young calves from €70 to €180/head, while better-conformed calves sold to €250 to €300/head and as high as €350 to €480 for aged, reared types.

David commented that the strength of the trade provides an excellent opportunity for farmers considering selling calves earlier than usual.

Cull cow numbers are seasonally declining, with an entry of about 65 head generating more bite in the trade.

Slaughter-fit and Friesian cows with a fairly good flesh cover sold from €2.60/kg to €2.90/kg on average.

Some plainer-quality types sold back to €2/kg and less in cases for cows lacking significant flesh cover, while, at the opposite end of the quality spectrum, beef cows sold from €3/kg to a high of €3.73/kg.

Demand for over 110 heifers was firm. Heifers weighing 400kg to 600kg averaged €3.60/kg, with the top third rising to €4.06/kg and the bottom third including Friesians selling back to €3.13/kg.

Heifers weighing in excess of 600kg sold in the main from €3.50/kg to €3.80/kg.

A selection of yearling continental heifers sold from €3.40/kg for dairy-crosses to €4/kg to €4.70/kg for suckler bred types.

Bullocks weighing 350kg to 500kg averaged around the €3.85/kg mark, with the top third rising to €4.50/kg-plus.

A smaller number of heavy bullocks averaged €3.50/kg for Angus-crosses, Limousin-crosses and Belgian Blue-crosses.

A selection of weanling bulls sold from €4.40/kg to upwards of €5/kg for the best-quality lots, falling back to €4/kg and under for plainer-quality lots.

The mart will hold a special E and U grade weanling sale on 4 July, along with a special suckler sale including 40 heifers calving from August onwards.

In pictures

This one-month-old Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer calf born 20/05/25 sold for €410.

This nice-quality Charolais-cross bull calf born 31/03/26 sold for €560.

This pair of lighter Hereford-cross heifer calves born 22/05/26 sold for €300.

This pair of Hereford-cross bull calves born on 21/05/26 and 22/05/26 sold for €480 each.

This Friesian cow weighing 558kg and born 29/09/18 sold for €1,510 (€2.71/kg).

This Friesian cull cow weighing 602kg and born 08/02/17 sold for €1,760 (€2.92/kg).

This heavier Friesian cow weighing 702kg and born 01/02/22 sold for €1,890 (€2.69/kg).

This slaughter-fit Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer weighing 624kg and born 16/02/24 sold for €2,310 (€3.70/kg).

Weighing 336kg, this Limousin-cross heifer born 14/04/25 sold for €1,510 (€4.49/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 388kg and born 14/03/25 sold for €1,530 (€3.94/kg).

This pair of Limousin-cross heifers weighing 391kg on average and born 14/03/25 and 15/03/25 sold for €1,520 (€3.89/kg).

Weighing 486kg, this Limousin-cross heifer born 02/05/24 sold for €1,920 (€3.95/kg).

This plainer-quality Belgian Blue-cross heifer calf born 28/03/26 sold for €350.

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 340kg and born 17/05/25 sold for €1,310 (€3.85/kg).

This strong six-month-old Friesian bull calf born 24/12/25 sold for €480.

This Hereford-cross bull calf born on 06/05/26 sold for €350.

This well-fleshed Friesian cull cow weighing 692kg and born 17/03/13 sold for €1,890 (€2.73/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 344kg and born 02/03/25 sold for €1,310 (€3.81/kg).

This Friesian-cross heifer weighing 362kg and born 15/02/25 sold for €1,270 (€3.51/kg).

This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer weighing 602kg and born 15/03/24 sold for €2,120 (€3.52/kg).

This top-quality Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer weighing 598kg and born 14/02/24 sold for €2,250 (€3.76/kg).

This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer weighing 618kg and born 14/03/24 sold for €2,140 (€3.46/kg).

This batch of three Limousin-cross heifers averaging 438kg and born from 14/03/25 to 04/04/25 sold for €1,650 (€3.77/kg).

This aged Friesian cow born 12/02/13 and weighing 580kg sold for €920 (€1.59/kg).

Weighing 628kg, this Friesian-cross heifer born 15/02/24 sold for €1,980 (€3.15/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 448kg and born 22/06/24 sold for €1,620 (€3.62/kg).