Monday’s sale at Castleisland Mart saw a good entry of about 450 suckler calves on offer in conjunction with the usual weanling sale.
Mart manager John Humphries said that calf numbers were well up on the previous week, but he added that peak numbers would not really occur for another two to three weeks.
This Belgian Blue bull born 25 January sold for €310.
In terms of demand, he said: “I have never seen less farmer demand for calves at the ringside.”
Over the course of the sale, only about 15% of calves were bought by farmers and these were mainly coloured calves.
This pair of Hereford heifers born 14 January sold for €250 each.
Only very good-quality Friesians and aged Friesian bull calves were bought by farmers.
About two thirds of those on offer were Friesian bulls. John said that the main demand saw prices range from €50/head to €60/head, but some younger and plainer calves did make a little less than this, with some poor-quality and plain types making less than €30/head.
This Aberdeen Angus bull born 7 Januarysold for €215.
In contrast, demand for strong aged calves saw prices of up to €140/head paid for two- to three-month-old Friesian bulls that were three-quarter weaned.
He did voice some concerns over the seasonality of calf sales, with larger numbers being offloaded by farmers in a narrower window in recent years.
These three Friesian Bulls born two months ago sold for €97 each.
He said that this could have a negative impact on prices as we enter into peak numbers.
John said that farmer demand centred around coloured calves and in particular Angus and Hereford calves.
This Limousin bull born 23 January sold for €340.
He said that farmer demand is strong for these at the moment and prices have started quite high, but he expects prices to ease in the coming month as numbers of these calves increase.
This Limousin bull born 9 January sold for €395.
The average Angus and Hereford bull sold for about €200 to €250/head, while heifer calves sold mainly from €170 to €200/head.
He added that there continues to be very strong demand for continental calves, with prices of €400 to €500/head being paid for sucklers in recent weeks.
This Belgian Blue bull born 25 January sold for €380.
Monday’s sale also saw a good entry of weanlings on offer and these were a very strong trade, according to John. He said that continentals from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly form €2.40/kg to a top of €2.57/kg, while average-quality bulls and heifers sold from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg. Commission rates for calves are €8 to the buyer and 1.5% to the seller.
This Limousin Bull born 10 January sold for €330.
These three Friesian bulls born 22 January sold for €65 each.
These three Aberdeen Angus heifers, born 16 January sold for €210 each.
This Friesian bull born 16 January sold for €80.
Monday’s sale at Castleisland Mart saw a good entry of about 450 suckler calves on offer in conjunction with the usual weanling sale.
Mart manager John Humphries said that calf numbers were well up on the previous week, but he added that peak numbers would not really occur for another two to three weeks.
This Belgian Blue bull born 25 January sold for €310.
In terms of demand, he said: “I have never seen less farmer demand for calves at the ringside.”
Over the course of the sale, only about 15% of calves were bought by farmers and these were mainly coloured calves.
This pair of Hereford heifers born 14 January sold for €250 each.
Only very good-quality Friesians and aged Friesian bull calves were bought by farmers.
About two thirds of those on offer were Friesian bulls. John said that the main demand saw prices range from €50/head to €60/head, but some younger and plainer calves did make a little less than this, with some poor-quality and plain types making less than €30/head.
This Aberdeen Angus bull born 7 Januarysold for €215.
In contrast, demand for strong aged calves saw prices of up to €140/head paid for two- to three-month-old Friesian bulls that were three-quarter weaned.
He did voice some concerns over the seasonality of calf sales, with larger numbers being offloaded by farmers in a narrower window in recent years.
These three Friesian Bulls born two months ago sold for €97 each.
He said that this could have a negative impact on prices as we enter into peak numbers.
John said that farmer demand centred around coloured calves and in particular Angus and Hereford calves.
This Limousin bull born 23 January sold for €340.
He said that farmer demand is strong for these at the moment and prices have started quite high, but he expects prices to ease in the coming month as numbers of these calves increase.
This Limousin bull born 9 January sold for €395.
The average Angus and Hereford bull sold for about €200 to €250/head, while heifer calves sold mainly from €170 to €200/head.
He added that there continues to be very strong demand for continental calves, with prices of €400 to €500/head being paid for sucklers in recent weeks.
This Belgian Blue bull born 25 January sold for €380.
Monday’s sale also saw a good entry of weanlings on offer and these were a very strong trade, according to John. He said that continentals from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly form €2.40/kg to a top of €2.57/kg, while average-quality bulls and heifers sold from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg. Commission rates for calves are €8 to the buyer and 1.5% to the seller.
This Limousin Bull born 10 January sold for €330.
These three Friesian bulls born 22 January sold for €65 each.
These three Aberdeen Angus heifers, born 16 January sold for €210 each.
This Friesian bull born 16 January sold for €80.
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