While a surge in supply has seen prices for beef-sired calves slip, their prices are considerably above those of the last two years writes Tommy Moyles.
Beef-sored calves made up three quarters of all calves sold at marts last week. \ Odhran Ducie
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The swing to calves from the dairy herd sired by a beef bull is ramping up as they accounted for three-quarters of all calves sold last week. Angus-crosses alone accounted for four out of every 10 calves, while Hereford-crosses made up 19% of calves sold.
This lift in supply of beef calves has seen prices fall across the main breeds, with slight improvements made by some continental-crosses over the last week, according to data from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).
Over the last week, an Angus-cross bull aged from three to six weeks of age sold for an average of €450/head, a decrease of €21/head compared to last week. This is back €50/head on what they were making in the middle of February, it is double the price they were for the last week of March in 2025 and three times their 2024 value when they sold for €309/head and €146/head respectively.
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Hereford-cross bull calves traded for €488/head last week, a marked difference from 2024 when they were making €179/head.
Prices for Friesian bulls have improved considerably over the past two years too. The average price for a Friesian bull calf aged from three to six weeks of age over the past seven days was €263/head.
This is a reduction of €16/head compared to last week. In 2024 that same calf was averaging €52/head, while they improved to €176/head at the end of March 2025.
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The swing to calves from the dairy herd sired by a beef bull is ramping up as they accounted for three-quarters of all calves sold last week. Angus-crosses alone accounted for four out of every 10 calves, while Hereford-crosses made up 19% of calves sold.
This lift in supply of beef calves has seen prices fall across the main breeds, with slight improvements made by some continental-crosses over the last week, according to data from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).
Over the last week, an Angus-cross bull aged from three to six weeks of age sold for an average of €450/head, a decrease of €21/head compared to last week. This is back €50/head on what they were making in the middle of February, it is double the price they were for the last week of March in 2025 and three times their 2024 value when they sold for €309/head and €146/head respectively.
Hereford-cross bull calves traded for €488/head last week, a marked difference from 2024 when they were making €179/head.
Prices for Friesian bulls have improved considerably over the past two years too. The average price for a Friesian bull calf aged from three to six weeks of age over the past seven days was €263/head.
This is a reduction of €16/head compared to last week. In 2024 that same calf was averaging €52/head, while they improved to €176/head at the end of March 2025.
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