Calf trade: A look at how calf prices are faring into early May

By Breifne O'Brien

May 9, 2026 5:00 AM

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Peak calf sale season has now well passed but large numbers continue to be traded both at marts and from farm-to-farm on a weekly basis.

Broadly speaking, 2026 calf prices peaked earlier on in the year and then declined as the spring progressed.

The calf trade has levelled off now with rises seen in the average prices in some categories in the past few weeks.

Despite this, the calf trade remains largely positive, with average prices in some of the main categories remaining above prices this time last year.

2025 will be a memorable year for the calf trade, with substantial increases seen in calf prices paid as the spring sale season progressed.

Much of this momentum has carried through to this year, with much higher clearance rates and prices achieved when compared to calf sales two years ago.

The table below details the average calf price paid by age, sex and sire breed for calves bred from dairy cows in the week ending Sunday, May 3:

Sire Breed	Sex	Age Range	Number of Calves	Average Age (days)	Average Price (€)	Number with Recorded Weight	Average Weight (kg)
Angus	M	<21 days	206	18	385	126	60
Angus	M	21-42 days	2,407	33	441	1,601	64
Angus	F	<21 days	171	17	266	103	57
Angus	F	21-42 days	2,023	33	304	1,339	61
Aubrac	M	<21 days	9	15	363	2	51
Aubrac	M	21-42 days	86	32	451	34	63
Aubrac	F	<21 days	9	17	307	0	0
Aubrac	F	21-42 days	70	32	329	25	56
Belgian Blue	M	<21 days	14	18	601	7	73
Belgian Blue	M	21-42 days	237	32	550	107	69
Belgian Blue	F	<21 days	13	16	523	5	61
Belgian Blue	F	21-42 days	208	33	488	97	65
Charolais	M	<21 days	11	17	505	0	0
Charolais	M	21-42 days	80	33	588	52	72
Charolais	F	<21 days	11	18	450	2	90
Charolais	F	21-42 days	55	34	406	38	60
Friesian	M	<21 days	79	17	252	45	55
Friesian	M	21-42 days	677	32	277	455	62
Friesian	F	<21 days	5	17	176	2	40
Friesian	F	21-42 days	104	32	272	79	58
Hereford	M	<21 days	94	17	393	45	62
Hereford	M	21-42 days	1,130	32	486	716	69
Hereford	F	<21 days	91	18	326	50	64
Hereford	F	21-42 days	1,026	32	349	630	66
Limousin	M	<21 days	17	15	437	10	60
Limousin	M	21-42 days	176	31	550	67	72
Limousin	F	<21 days	18	16	370	6	70
Limousin	F	21-42 days	166	31	427	62	67
Salers	M	<21 days	0	0	0	0	0
Salers	M	21-42 days	7	31	378	1	62
Salers	F	<21 days	2	19	100	0	0
Salers	F	21-42 days	10	32	307	5	63
Simmental	M	<21 days	19	18	420	10	66
Simmental	M	21-42 days	99	32	526	61	77
Simmental	F	<21 days	8	14	469	6	77
Simmental	F	21-42 days	68	32	408	41	66
Other Beef Breeds	M	<21 days	5	15	396	3	57
Other Beef Breeds	M	21-42 days	46	32	367	28	62
Other Beef Breeds	F	<21 days	1	18	180	1	48
Other Beef Breeds	F	21-42 days	30	33	318	15	63

Source: ICBF

The average price paid for 3-6 weeks-of-age Angus bull calves last week was €441/head - up €15/head on the previous week and €41/head above the same time of 2025.

Angus bull calves under three weeks-of-age averaged €385/head last week - up €13/head on the previous week and over €40/head on the same week of last year.

According to the ICBF calf price database, Hereford bull calves from 3-6 weeks-of-age averaged €486/head last week - up €25/head on last week and almost €90/head on the same time last year.

Hereford bulls calves under three weeks-of-age averaged €393/head last week up €30/head on last year and down €4/head on last week.

Friesian bull calves from 3-6 weeks-of-age averaged €277/head last week and Friesian bulls under three weeks-of-age averaged €252/head.