Strong prices for calves leads to fall in export levels
Calf exports for the year are but a trickle of the level in previous years, although the average prices for beef and dairy breeds have fallen below the level of the corresponding weeks in 2001.
Calf exports are running at 400-500 head a week, with total exports for the year at 6,543.
With the exception of 2001 during the first half of which, exports were suspended under FMD restrictions the scale of calf exports remains low compared to previous years.
For the corresponding period in 2000, a total of 119,537 calves were exported.
In 1999, the figure for the same period was 72,603.
Exports in 2001 were 2,218.
Although prices are lower than they were for 2001 or 2000, export agents are unable to compete with supplies from other regions within the EU.
The average for dairy breed calves in this country last week was 119.
In the same week last year, they averaged 136, and in 2000 for the corresponding week, the average was 183.
Beef breed calves averaged 234 last week, against 249 for the same week in 2001, and 266 for the corresponding week in 2000.
However, the prices still look high to purchasers compared to prices in the EU, with the exception of France, where continental breed calves are averaging 332 and Friesian euro, 248.
Germany is averaging 139 and Denmark, 110.
In the marts yesterday, up to 350 was paid for continental breed bulls at Kanturk, with a similar price at Fermoy and up to 325 at Macroom. Hereford bulls sold up to 300 at Kanturk, making 355 at Fermoy and up to 242 at Macroom.
There was up to 180 paid for Friesian bulls at Kanturk.
Friesian heifers are making from 100 to 175 and the continental breed heifers are making up to 195.
