Despite numbers rising on last week, Bandon Mart manager Tom McCarthy said there was a lift in trade with live exporters much more active.

This was especially the case for the lighter Friesian bull calves with average prices for these types creeping up by €10/head on last week.

Throughput increased from about 700 calves last week to 1,150 this week with Friesian bulls making up the bulk of calves on offer.

Prices

In the main, export-type Friesian bull calves sold for between €40 and €101.

There was minor competition between exporters and farmers for the stronger type bulls and these sold for up to €135, while at the top end of the Friesian bull trade calves made up to €225 but this was for late 2018-born animals.

Beef calves

Hereford and Angus bulls sold from €150 up to €325 while heifer calves from these crosses made between €90 and €270. The lighter-conformed calves along with those from Jersey-cross cows sold for money similar to the top end of the export type Friesian bull calf.

The rest

Continental calves were very scarce this week. Heifers made up to €450 and continental bulls also sold for up to €450.

Jersey cross calves were available in small numbers. These, along with the lightest of Friesian bull calves, sold to a top price of €40.

There was a very large percentage of Friesian bull calves among the 1,150 on offer in Bandon this week. The stronger end of the export type calves made up to €130.