Calf exports double in strong start

Marts: There has been a very strong start to the live export trade for the year, with the export of calves and young store animals doubled for the first two months of 2006.

Export demand for quality continental bulls has been keeping price high at the mart sales, where supplies are now building up to the seasonal high, while demand from exporters for Friesian has maintained a floor under a breed affected by the ending of the headage based premia support.

Exports of calves to the end of February were 10,354 head compared to 5,319 head for 2005. Exports of weanling and young store animals increased from 4,338 head last year to over 9,200 head.

Tops of the continental bulls are selling at €400-€450/head with the general run of prices ranging €300-€400/head. The quality continental heifers are making almost as much as the bulls.

Up to €330/head was paid for continental heifers at Bandon where prices for the bulls ranged €230-€350/head. There is a steady trade for the Hereford bulls at up to €300/head with the Hereford heifers at Bandon ranging €130-€220/head.

Early Friesian heifer calves ranged €150-€260/head with exporters paying up to around €180/head and farmers paying up to €200/head for the quality Friesian.

Plainer Friesian bulls were a hard sell with Holstein-type animals selling back to €30/head.

At Kilmallock, prices were slight improved on last week for the quality animals with some of the continental bulls making over €400/head.

At Fermoy, Friesian bulls ranged €50-€190/head and heifers sold at €60-€150. Hereford bulls made €140-€250 and Hereford heifers sold at €60-€150/head. The continental bulls made up to €320/head.