Exports to Turkey set to give calf prices a boost
The number of dairy-sired calves is estimated to have risen by 3% in Ireland last year, reflecting optimism and expansion in the dairy sector. A large proportion of male dairy-bred calves are traded at between three and six weeks of age, and higher exports of calves were the main driver of the 18% increase in Irish live exports in 2010.
The value of calves in markets like Holland and Spain tends to determine calf prices in Ireland. Beef and veal production in these countries relies heavily on importing calves from Germany, Poland and Eastern Europe, where calf prices have increased due to Turkish demand.
