Table: Weekly average calf prices by age and sire breed

By Breifne O'Brien

March 15, 2026 5:00 PM

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The average price paid for calves increased in most categories in the week ending Sunday, March 8, according to the latest official calf price data.

According to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation's (ICBF's) calf price database, Angus bull calves from 3-6 weeks-of-age averaged €531/head with the heifers averaging €433.

The Angus-sired bull and heifer calves sold under three weeks of age averaged €465 and €368/head respectively.

The table below details average calf prices for the week ending Sunday, March 8, based on sire breed, age, sex and weight:

Sire Breed	Sex	Age Range	Number of Calves	Average Age (days)	Average Price (€)	Number with Recorded Weight	Average Weight (kg)
Angus	M	<21 days	874	18	465	578	56
Angus	M	21-42 days	2,265	27	531	1,604	62
Angus	F	<21 days	813	17	368	525	52
Angus	F	21-42 days	2,294	28	433	1,628	58
Aubrac	M	<21 days	15	17	435	5	55
Aubrac	M	21-42 days	27	29	451	23	63
Aubrac	F	<21 days	14	17	356	2	56
Aubrac	F	21-42 days	40	27	437	22	63
Belgian Blue	M	<21 days	267	18	539	147	58
Belgian Blue	M	21-42 days	537	27	621	278	65
Belgian Blue	F	<21 days	221	17	464	118	56
Belgian Blue	F	21-42 days	531	27	532	284	61
Charolais	M	<21 days	116	18	536	68	57
Charolais	M	21-42 days	191	26	642	109	70
Charolais	F	<21 days	110	18	472	61	56
Charolais	F	21-42 days	183	26	516	118	63
Friesian	M	<21 days	1,900	18	285	1,317	53
Friesian	M	21-42 days	6,316	28	312	4,602	58
Friesian	F	<21 days	17	17	276	11	49
Friesian	F	21-42 days	143	31	294	82	53
Hereford	M	<21 days	477	17	506	292	60
Hereford	M	21-42 days	780	26	555	475	64
Hereford	F	<21 days	405	17	397	242	55
Hereford	F	21-42 days	859	26	457	529	61
Limousin	M	<21 days	47	17	509	23	60
Limousin	M	21-42 days	172	28	613	82	68
Limousin	F	<21 days	59	17	418	23	54
Limousin	F	21-42 days	186	28	490	107	65
Salers	M	<21 days	1	17	410	0	0
Salers	M	21-42 days	4	28	473	3	62
Salers	F	<21 days	0	0	0	0	0
Salers	F	21-42 days	2	24	435	1	55
Simmental	M	<21 days	51	17	526	37	62
Simmental	M	21-42 days	158	27	576	106	68
Simmental	F	<21 days	23	17	503	17	62
Simmental	F	21-42 days	77	26	468	39	64
Other Beef Breeds	M	<21 days	39	17	391	24	56
Other Beef Breeds	M	21-42 days	68	28	441	32	63
Other Beef Breeds	F	<21 days	22	17	433	8	56
Other Beef Breeds	F	21-42 days	59	28	410	31	56

Calf prices had dipped in the final week of February but the first week of March has seen more trade positivity as farmers and exporters were contending strong at calf sales across the country.

It remains to be seen if calf prices will continue to strengthen, but with beef prices falling and Teagasc estimating the cost of rearing a calf to beef this year to be in the region of €1,400, the scope for many of the higher-priced calves to generate a profit margin will be slim.