Calf entries in Kilmallock Mart in Co Limerick are holding strong for the time of year, with almost 400 head on offer in last Monday’s sale.

Demand is solid, with live exporters keen for suitable lots and competing with farmer buyers. The greatest entry of calves was Angus-crosses and Hereford-crosses, followed by Friesian bulls.

Good-quality Aberdeen Angus-cross and Hereford-cross bull calves weighing from 60kg to 80kg ranged in price from €400 to €500 per head on average, with heifers of a similar weight selling from €300 to €460 depending on quality.

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Some stronger reared bull calves weighing upwards of 100kg to 120kg sold to as high as €750 per head. It was a similar case for a selection of good-quality Charolais-cross and Belgian Blue-cross bulls weighing from 80kg to 100kg plus and selling from €550 to €740 per head.

At the opposite end of the quality range, some lighter-boned Angus and Hereford-cross calves, some of which were bred from crossbred cows sold back to €200 to €250 per head.

A small offering of Friesian bulls sold on average from €250 to €370 per head.

Dairy crosses dominated the entry of about 60 bullocks and 50 heifers. Angus-cross bullocks weighing from 330kg to 480kg averaged in the region of €3.65/kg to €3.95/kg, with a few lots exceeding €4/kg.

Friesians of a similar weight were selling from €3.15/kg to €3.70/kg. A small number of heavier Friesian bullocks, which weighed from 500kg to 600kg averaged around €3.15/kg, with a handful of traditional breed-crosses selling to €3.40/kg.

Heifers followed a similar price range. Angus-cross, Hereford-cross and Belgian-blue cross heifers weighing from 300kg to 400kg sold from €3.60/kg to €4/kg, with lots weighing from €400kg to 500kg averaging 15c/kg to 30c/kg lower.

A small number of heavier heifers weighing from 500kg to 600kg sold around the €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg mark.

Cull cows

Demand for an entry of about 50 mainly Friesian cull cows was steady. A high percentage of cows with a good cover of flesh and weighing from 500kg to 600kg sold from €2.20/kg to €2.45/kg.

Some younger cows sold up to €2.80/kg to €3/kg, while cows straight from the parlour and with a lower cover of flesh sold back to €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.

Heavier Friesian cows weighing in excess of 600kg recorded a higher average price of €2.42/kg.

Weighing 46kg, this Hereford-cross bull calf born 13/05/26 sold for €460.
This Friesian bull born 09/04/26 and weighing 74kg sold for €260.
This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer calf born 29/04/26 and weighing 62kg sold for €345.
Weighing 80kg, this Friesian bull calf born 30/03/26 sold for €360.
This Friesian cow weighing 690kg and born 14/03/2018 sold for €1,670 (€2.42/kg).
Weighing 555kg, this Friesian cow born 26/02/18 sold for €1,250 (€2.25/kg).
This Friesian cow weighing 515kg and born 09/02/19 sold for €930 (€1.81/kg).
This pair of Belgian Blue-cross heifers averaging 345kg and born 03/02/25 and 08/02/25 sold for €1,370 (€3.97/kg).
These four Hereford-cross yearling heifers born from 07/05/25 to 12/05/25 and weighing 294kg sold for €1,130 (€3.84/kg).
These three Charolais-cross heifers born from 21/03/24 to 26/07/24 and weighing 430kg sold for €1,570 (€3.65/kg).
These three Hereford-cross heifers born from 02/06/24 to 17/06/24 and weighing 568kg sold for €1,890 (€3.33/kg).
Four Limousin-cross heifers born from 30/03/25 to 23/04/25 and weighing 293kg sold for €1,120 (€3.82/kg).
This pair of Hereford-cross heifers weighing 518kg and born 17/03/2024 and 26/03/2024 sold for €1,710 (€3.30/kg).
This fleshed Friesian cow weighing 570kg and born 18/02/19 sold for €1,400 (€2.46/kg).
This light Angus-cross heifer calf weighing 40kg and born 05/05/26 sold for €70.
This Friesian bull weighing 88kg and born 31/03/26 sold for €325.