Demand for dairy replacement stock has been extremely strong throughout 2025 and, when combined with a lower supply compared with other years, has resulted in higher prices for milking cows.
A top price of €5,700 was paid for a third-lactation cow due to calf in February.
Corrin Mart held one of the first dairy clearance sales since spring as the Castlerobert herd went through the ring on Friday last.
An average price in excess of €3,500 tells its own tale and the fact thast 92 out of 120 cows on offer exceeded €3,000 reflected the demand that is there for stock.
Seven cows made over €5,000, while 34 cows sold for between €4,000 and €5,000.
'New era'
Following the sale, mart manager Sean Leahy said: “We’re gone into a whole new era with a sale like this.
"It’s the first clearance sale since the spring and it was a good guide of the real trade for dairy stock.
"We didn’t know how good a sale it was going [to be] beforehand, but the farmer selling had a good reputation for stock.
"The herd averaged 785kg of milk solids. That meant they got plenty [of] interest and we’ve had plenty [of] farmers looking for good cows either to top up their herds or buy in after losing cows to TB.”
This November 2021-born cow with an EBI of €151 and due to calve in March sold for €5,300.
This October 2020-born cow with an EBI of €191 and due to calve in February sold for €4,950.
This October 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €233 and due to calve in December sold for €4,250.
This October 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €183 and due to calve in October sold for €3,600.
This November 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €232 and due to calve in December sold for €3,950.
This January 2022-born cow with an EBI of €154 and due to calve in October sold for €3,700.
This October 2020-born cow with an EBI of €214 and due to calve in December sold for €3,400.
This October 2022-born cow with an EBI of €109 and due to calve in February sold for €4,050.
This September 2022-born cow with an EBI of €212 and due to calve in January sold for €4,500.
This February 2022-born cow with an EBI of €270 and due to calve in February sold for €5,000.
This October 2020-born cow with an EBI of €265 and due to calve in November sold for €4,400.
This February 2022-born cow with an EBI of €235 and due to calve in February sold for €4,450.
This September 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €217 and due to calve in January sold for €3,800
This December 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €194 and due to calve in January sold for €4,400
This January 2024-born heifer with an EBI of €204 and due to calve in February sold for €3,950.
This March 2020-born cow with an EBI of €201 and due to calve in March sold for €4,600.
This September 2020-born cow with an EBI of €164 and due to calve in April sold for €3,550.
This October 2022-born cow with an EBI of €200 and due to calve in November sold for €3,500.
Demand for dairy replacement stock has been extremely strong throughout 2025 and, when combined with a lower supply compared with other years, has resulted in higher prices for milking cows.
A top price of €5,700 was paid for a third-lactation cow due to calf in February.
Corrin Mart held one of the first dairy clearance sales since spring as the Castlerobert herd went through the ring on Friday last.
An average price in excess of €3,500 tells its own tale and the fact thast 92 out of 120 cows on offer exceeded €3,000 reflected the demand that is there for stock.
Seven cows made over €5,000, while 34 cows sold for between €4,000 and €5,000.
'New era'
Following the sale, mart manager Sean Leahy said: “We’re gone into a whole new era with a sale like this.
"It’s the first clearance sale since the spring and it was a good guide of the real trade for dairy stock.
"We didn’t know how good a sale it was going [to be] beforehand, but the farmer selling had a good reputation for stock.
"The herd averaged 785kg of milk solids. That meant they got plenty [of] interest and we’ve had plenty [of] farmers looking for good cows either to top up their herds or buy in after losing cows to TB.”
This November 2021-born cow with an EBI of €151 and due to calve in March sold for €5,300.
This October 2020-born cow with an EBI of €191 and due to calve in February sold for €4,950.
This October 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €233 and due to calve in December sold for €4,250.
This October 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €183 and due to calve in October sold for €3,600.
This November 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €232 and due to calve in December sold for €3,950.
This January 2022-born cow with an EBI of €154 and due to calve in October sold for €3,700.
This October 2020-born cow with an EBI of €214 and due to calve in December sold for €3,400.
This October 2022-born cow with an EBI of €109 and due to calve in February sold for €4,050.
This September 2022-born cow with an EBI of €212 and due to calve in January sold for €4,500.
This February 2022-born cow with an EBI of €270 and due to calve in February sold for €5,000.
This October 2020-born cow with an EBI of €265 and due to calve in November sold for €4,400.
This February 2022-born cow with an EBI of €235 and due to calve in February sold for €4,450.
This September 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €217 and due to calve in January sold for €3,800
This December 2023-born heifer with an EBI of €194 and due to calve in January sold for €4,400
This January 2024-born heifer with an EBI of €204 and due to calve in February sold for €3,950.
This March 2020-born cow with an EBI of €201 and due to calve in March sold for €4,600.
This September 2020-born cow with an EBI of €164 and due to calve in April sold for €3,550.
This October 2022-born cow with an EBI of €200 and due to calve in November sold for €3,500.
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