Table: Calf prices drop by near €100/head in 6 weeks in cases
Average calf prices have continued in a general declining trend in the week ending Sunday, April 12.
According to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price data for dairy bred (dairy dam) calves traded in marts, calf prices have been generally declining overall in recent weeks.
The average price paid for Angus bull calves from 3-6 weeks-of-age was €408 in the week ending Sunday, April 5, down €96/head from €504/head six weeks ago.
Despite this, calf prices remain in a very strong position when taking a five-year average.
The average price paid for Charolais, Belgian Blue, and Limousin-sired calves from 3-6 weeks-of-age all remain over €500/head.
The table below details the average calf prices paid by age, sex and sire breed for calves bred from dairy cows in the week ending Sunday, April 5:
| Sire Breed | Sex | Age Range | Number of Calves | Average Age (days) | Average Price (€) | Number with Recorded Weight | Average Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angus | M | <21 days | 280 | 18 | 334 | 197 | 56 |
| Angus | M | 21-42 days | 3,253 | 31 | 408 | 2,441 | 63 |
| Angus | F | <21 days | 206 | 18 | 251 | 130 | 54 |
| Angus | F | 21-42 days | 2,995 | 32 | 297 | 2,263 | 60 |
| Aubrac | M | <21 days | 17 | 18 | 276 | 8 | 47 |
| Aubrac | M | 21-42 days | 127 | 32 | 421 | 49 | 65 |
| Aubrac | F | <21 days | 6 | 17 | 195 | 1 | 55 |
| Aubrac | F | 21-42 days | 105 | 33 | 299 | 29 | 62 |
| Belgian Blue | M | <21 days | 32 | 18 | 476 | 24 | 62 |
| Belgian Blue | M | 21-42 days | 556 | 31 | 511 | 282 | 67 |
| Belgian Blue | F | <21 days | 26 | 19 | 458 | 11 | 57 |
| Belgian Blue | F | 21-42 days | 496 | 32 | 453 | 265 | 64 |
| Charolais | M | <21 days | 17 | 19 | 414 | 13 | 60 |
| Charolais | M | 21-42 days | 208 | 32 | 512 | 154 | 68 |
| Charolais | F | <21 days | 11 | 18 | 452 | 7 | 64 |
| Charolais | F | 21-42 days | 194 | 31 | 418 | 126 | 64 |
| Friesian | M | <21 days | 80 | 18 | 239 | 66 | 57 |
| Friesian | M | 21-42 days | 1,971 | 33 | 266 | 1,364 | 61 |
| Friesian | F | <21 days | 12 | 16 | 338 | 7 | 51 |
| Friesian | F | 21-42 days | 96 | 32 | 280 | 74 | 57 |
| Hereford | M | <21 days | 167 | 18 | 370 | 90 | 59 |
| Hereford | M | 21-42 days | 1,562 | 31 | 447 | 1,023 | 66 |
| Hereford | F | <21 days | 137 | 18 | 281 | 84 | 55 |
| Hereford | F | 21-42 days | 1,428 | 31 | 326 | 931 | 62 |
| Limousin | M | <21 days | 20 | 17 | 443 | 9 | 57 |
| Limousin | M | 21-42 days | 244 | 32 | 516 | 131 | 71 |
| Limousin | F | <21 days | 24 | 17 | 373 | 13 | 59 |
| Limousin | F | 21-42 days | 220 | 32 | 440 | 100 | 67 |
| Salers | M | <21 days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salers | M | 21-42 days | 4 | 33 | 309 | 3 | 52 |
| Salers | F | <21 days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salers | F | 21-42 days | 9 | 33 | 330 | 8 | 60 |
| Simmental | M | <21 days | 10 | 18 | 373 | 5 | 63 |
| Simmental | M | 21-42 days | 156 | 32 | 458 | 121 | 69 |
| Simmental | F | <21 days | 6 | 18 | 393 | 4 | 63 |
| Simmental | F | 21-42 days | 99 | 32 | 375 | 78 | 63 |
| Other Beef Breeds | M | <21 days | 6 | 17 | 293 | 2 | 46 |
| Other Beef Breeds | M | 21-42 days | 78 | 31 | 305 | 66 | 59 |
| Other Beef Breeds | F | <21 days | 11 | 18 | 269 | 4 | 57 |
| Other Beef Breeds | F | 21-42 days | 76 | 32 | 280 | 44 | 55 |
Friesian bull calves from 3-6 weeks-of-age averaged €266/head last week, down less severely from €275/head six weeks ago.
Hereford bull calves under three weeks-of-age average €370/head last week while Angus bull calves of this age averaged €334/head.
Calf export numbers have declined by 17% this year when compared to last year.
Data sourced by Agriland from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) shows high attrition rates remain in the number of Irish farmers rearing calves on an annual basis also.
Peak calf sale season has now passed and weekly calf sale numbers generally ease off into May in line with the spring calving pattern on dairy farms.
