Prices for export-type calves fell at some mart sales over the past week as exports to EU markets continued to be disrupted by rough sea conditions.

Calf trucks were allowed on to Saturday’s sailing from Rosslare but – because there had earlier been uncertainty – not all exporters were ready and there was not a full complement of calf trucks on board. No trucks sailed on the first sailing of this week, Tuesday. Exporters are hopeful of travelling on Thursday’s sailing but expect a return to rough seas for Saturday.

There is very much a three-tier calf market.

Farmers are the main source of demand at the upper end of quality and age, with strong four-week-old calves and stronger-type selling from €90 to €130/head. Shippers are very active at marts and are sourcing calves that are healthy and of good quality from prices between €40 and €70/head.

At the bottom of the market, there are still large numbers of low-value Friesian calves being sold at marts. These light two-week-old calves are seeing some farmers take the risk of buying at low money. Prices of poor-quality Friesians and those that could have some Jersey influence are seeing prices range from €10 to €40/head.

Where Jersey bull calves are on offer, there is demand, with some people taking a punt on them at around €5 to €10/head.

The age and quality of calf is having a major impact on prices. ICBF figures show that two-week-old Friesian bulls are selling for just under €50/head on average, with a premium of €16 to €17/head being paid for stronger three-week-old calves.

Strong four-week-old calves are making more than €20/head more than three-week-olds. Approximately 45% of Friesian bulls on offer are young, two-week-old calves.

The number of Angus and Hereford calves on offer is increasing quickly also. Angus heifers are selling mainly from €110/head to €160/head, with two-week-old and light-boned calves receiving the lower prices.

Bulls are making a premium of up to €40/head on heifers. Hereford heifer calves are selling for about €30 to €40/head more than Angus heifers, while there is only a small difference in price between strong Angus bulls and strong Hereford bulls.

Calf peak

Exporters and dairy farmers alike are hoping the prolonged bad weather will soon end. Calf numbers increased this week and will rise further to peak levels from next week and stay high for up to four weeks.

Bandon and Kilmallock marts will shortly introduce their second weekly sales, which will run for six or seven weeks.

Co Cork exporter William O’Keeffe said that he and other exporters were now having to deal with the combined issues of limited lairage at Cherbourg and ongoing weather disruption. Farmers will just have to keep feeding calves on, he said. “Hopefully weather will improve.” He said that demand for calves has now picked up in the Netherlands. He exports 1,500 calves per week.