Calf trade: Calf exporters return to action
With the weather settling down and conditions becoming more favourable for exporters, the levels of export activity at online calf sales for this week is expected to rise again.
In terms of prices this week, we are seeing some mixed reports – but due to exporters being back in action, managers are stating that the lighter-type of Friesian bulls have received a slight lift in price in some marts.
This week
Kilkenny Mart
There was close to 480 calves on offer during Tuesday’s calf sale in Kilkenny, with the mart’s auctioneer, George Candler, stating that it was “a sharper trade” for the lesser quality Friesian bulls.
Additional reporting by Michael Carey
Dairy calf exports have fallen significantly behind this year in comparison to the same period last year, according to the latest data from Bord Bia. The impact of sailing cancellations over recent weeks is beginning to filter through in the most recent figures.
Up to the week ending February 27, there had been 16,169 dairy calves exported from Ireland to foreign destinations – representing a 26.7% or 4,321 head decrease from 2020 figures.
In the week prior to these latest figures, calf exports had been running ahead by 22%.
Spain remains the leading importer of animals with 8,310 exported so far (with the majority of these being calves) – experiencing an increase of 1,698 or 25.7% compared to the same period last year.
February 25, 2021 6:40 am
As the numbers continue to rise across marts this week, calf prices are starting to see their seasonal drop back more so in recent days.
With issues in calf export sailings due to poor weather conditions, this has not aided prices – especially for the Friesian-bred calves that fall into the export category.
This week,
Carnaross Mart
The prices for Friesian bull calves were not as hot as they were previous weeks, according to Carnaross Mart’s manager, Padraig McElroy.
There was a big jump over 200 additional calves in the week-on-week entries – as the mart played host to approximately 550 calves on Monday (February 22).