Calf prices hit €500/hd at marts as demand soars
‘The only sensible approach is to legalise recreational drugs’ But it’s all in the breeding with ‘anything possible’ for Continentals while Jersey-crosses are being given away
CALF PRICES in the marts have hardened on the back of continuing strong demand from farmers and shippers and the recent reduction in veterinary inspection levies on exports.
However, the market for Jersey and Jersey-cross bulls is on the floor. There are reports of some calves being given away by farmers and other lots being sold for €5 and €10 per head.
The cut in export levies from €4.80/ animal to €1.20/animal has given the export trade a real boost, with exporters and farmers competing strongly for Friesian stock.
Tom McCarthy of Cork Marts described the trade in Bandon and Skibbereen as “very strong”, with “tremendous” export activity.
He said shipping-type Friesian bulls sold for €75/hd to €130/hd. Meanwhile, stronger Friesian bulls were being bought by farmers for €170-180/hd, with €200/hd being paid in exceptional cases.
Hereford and Angus bulls generally sold for €250/hd to €330/hd, with topclass animals making up to €370/hd.
There was very strong demand for the Continental calves on offer, with “anything possible” when they entered the ring. Bulls made up to a top price of €500/hd, with most heifers selling between €200/hd and €340/hd.
It was a similar story in New Ross, where auctioneer Jim Bushe said there was a “ripper of a trade” for Continental calves.
“You’d be eaten alive for Continental bulls and heifers,” Bushe said.
Continental bulls sold to a top of €500/hd, with the majority in a range from €320/hd to €450/hd. The heifers made similar prices.
Hereford and Angus bulls sold from €160 to €400/hd, with the heifers making from €120/hd for younger calves, to €380/hd for stronger lots.
The shippers were very active for light Friesian bulls, with prices for these ranging from €70/hd to €120/ hd. Strong farmer demand saw good square Friesian bulls make from €120/ hd to a top of €280/hd.
However, despite the buoyant trade for most of the 900 calves on offer, Jim Bushe said Jersey and Jersey-cross bulls were “impossible to get sold”.
He said the majority were bought for €5/hd or €10/hd, some made up to €20/hd, but “one bundle” were given away by the seller after attracting no bid.
Consignment
Padraig Blake who works with calf exporters, the Buitelaar Group, said the calf levy reduction was a welcome but necessary development.
He pointed out that charging the same levy (€4.80) on a pedigree bull worth €5,000, and a calf worth €70, could not be justified.
Given that close to 270 calves are carried on modern articulated trucks, the levy reduction will be worth €970 per consignment of calves.
Blake said the calf trade on the continent was stronger than last year, with good demand from the Netherlands for calves in the €60 or €70 price bracket.
Announcing the reduction in the export fees, the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, accepted that the fees payable on young calves had been “disproportionate” relative to older animals.
“I have now moved to correct that anomaly and I am satisfied that this new arrangement is more equitable and should help to encourage exports,” he said.