In pictures: Almost 2,100 calves in Bandon calf sale

Calf numbers broke the 2,000 mark for the first time of the year in Bandon mart at the Bank holiday Monday sale in the west Cork venue. This is up 230 head compared to the corresponding sale last year and 460 head more than the same sale in 2022.

It’s fair to say that supply and demand was very evident across the trade today as buyers competed for the spec of calf they wanted and weren’t as anxious on what didn’t take their fancy.

Most of the shipping type Friesian bulls sold for between €25 and €70. That’s an improvement after a few tough weeks but a combination of exporters being able to get significant numbers away in early March combined with a dip in supply was at play here. A share of Friesian bulls sold for below that figure and keeping them company were Angus-cross calves under 50kg.

Most lighter calves under 50kg, regardless of breed, sold for between €5 and €70.

Beef breed crosses

The vast majority of Angus and Hereford calves between 55kg and 70kg were making between €80 to €220. Of the continentals, Belgian blues were the most numerous, those over 70kg and from Friesian dams usually made in excess of €300. Lighter calves over 50kg tended to sell for similar money as the bulk of traditional beef breed crosses. Farmer buyers were active for strong Friesian bull calves and a good share of those sold for prices similar to the lower half of the mid-range Angus and Hereford too.

One of the more noticeable things at this sale was the wide within-breed range of prices. Based solely on calves under six weeks of age, Angus hit a high of €415 but could be bought, in numbers, at €5/head. Belgian blues had a wider range again. They went from a high of €490 to a low of €20. Hereford weren’t as extreme, but still had a price difference of €348 between top and bottom. Friesians fared better with a top price of €165 paid.