Table: Latest average calf prices paid at marts

By Breifne O'Brien

May 30, 2026 12:00 PM

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Average calf prices in the week ending Sunday, May 24 are trending slightly behind the average year-to-date calf prices in several categories, according to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) calf price database.

Despite this, calf prices are in a largely positive position coming into the end of the spring calf sale season when taking a five-year average.

This year, calf prices started in a record-high position before generally speaking, declining as the year progressed.

Calf exporter activity remains high, with export buyers active for all types of calves including beef-sired male and female calves off dairy breed dams.

The table below details the average calf price data for dairy-bred (dairy dam) calves traded in marts for the week ending Sunday, May 24:

Sire Breed	Sex	Age Range	Number of Calves	Average Age (days)	Average Price (€)	Number with Recorded Weight	Average Weight (kg)
Angus	M	<21 days	147	17	405	102	61
Angus	M	21–42 days	1,612	32	443	1,117	66
Angus	F	<21 days	89	18	297	64	59
Angus	F	21–42 days	1,447	33	330	1,007	63
Aubrac	M	<21 days	1	13	560	0	0
Aubrac	M	21–42 days	57	34	479	20	66
Aubrac	F	<21 days	2	20	188	2	52
Aubrac	F	21–42 days	70	34	344	24	60
Belgian Blue	M	<21 days	13	17	548	3	68
Belgian Blue	M	21–42 days	129	32	584	62	71
Belgian Blue	F	<21 days	13	18	454	5	56
Belgian Blue	F	21–42 days	123	32	510	66	70
Charolais	M	<21 days	0	0	0	0	0
Charolais	M	21–42 days	43	33	578	37	77
Charolais	F	<21 days	4	15	528	3	61
Charolais	F	21–42 days	28	32	502	19	70
Friesian	M	<21 days	48	17	285	36	58
Friesian	M	21–42 days	348	32	291	242	65
Friesian	F	<21 days	9	19	247	7	53
Friesian	F	21–42 days	89	32	255	69	59
Hereford	M	<21 days	111	17	431	69	64
Hereford	M	21–42 days	810	32	468	539	70
Hereford	F	<21 days	95	18	325	55	64
Hereford	F	21–42 days	726	32	349	487	66
Limousin	M	<21 days	18	18	430	2	70
Limousin	M	21–42 days	120	31	526	57	71
Limousin	F	<21 days	13	19	379	1	94
Limousin	F	21–42 days	82	31	404	33	70
Salers	M	<21 days	1	18	240	0	0
Salers	M	21–42 days	13	36	381	10	64
Salers	F	<21 days	4	19	203	0	0
Salers	F	21–42 days	13	35	351	10	71
Simmental	M	<21 days	4	20	351	3	52
Simmental	M	21–42 days	79	32	502	37	78
Simmental	F	<21 days	7	18	417	3	88
Simmental	F	21–42 days	43	31	370	22	67
Other Beef Breeds	M	<21 days	2	16	338	2	54
Other Beef Breeds	M	21–42 days	35	32	340	18	62
Other Beef Breeds	F	<21 days	2	18	213	2	47
Other Beef Breeds	F	21–42 days	32	30	333	21	59

Source: ICBF

The ICBF data also shows larger numbers of calves over three weeks-of-age are now being traded, with over 1,600 3-6 weeks-of-age Angus bull calves in the data for last week versus 147 under three weeks-of-age.

The average price for Angus bull calves from 3-6 weeks-of-age was €443 last week, down from €450 in the previous week.

The average price for 3-6 weeks-of-age Angus bull calves traded to date this year is €448.

The average price for 3-6 weeks-of-age Friesian bull calves last week was €291. This is above the average price to date this year of €275.

The average price paid for 3-6 weeks-of-age Hereford bull calves last week was €468/head. This is below the average price to date this year of €479.