The trade for calves this year has started strong, with good numbers and prices being seen at Bandon Mart for this week's calf sale.

Bandon Mart held its weekly calf sale on Monday (January 30), with 300 calves on offer at the west Cork mart.

Commenting on the trade at Monday's sale, Sean Dennehy, Bandon Mart manager said: "It was a very brisk trade with a lot of customers looking for calves.

"Calving has started on some farms in the last few weeks with a lot of farms expected to start this week."

Dennehy noted that they are expecting over 1,000 calves/week at the mart by the third week of February.

Commenting further, he said: "There seems to be a positive vibe for the oncoming calf season with good signals from exporters around demand on the export markets."

He also noted the very strong prices being experienced throughout the beef supply chain, all the way through from yearlings to finished cattle and cows.

Prices for the Friesian calves on offer at Bandon on Monday ranged from €40 for a 45kg calf to €205 for a 146kg calf.

Sample prices for Friesian calves:

Prices for the Hereford and Angus-cross calves on offer ranged from €115 to a top price of €520.

Some sample prices from the Hereford and Angus cross bulls:

Some sample prices for the Hereford and Angus-cross heifers:

Prices for continental calves reached €500 at the sale.

Sample prices from the Continental calves:

Giving his final thoughts on the trade at Monday's sale, Dennehy said: "We started weighing calves in Bandon last year and this has been hugely popular, especially to online buyers who have a lot of information on what's in the ring when you couple the weight, appearance, age and the dam's breed.

"Farmer buyers in particular will want the heavier calves mainly due to the price of milk replacer and we have seen this over the last couple of months.  

"All signs are for a reasonably good calf season ahead."