Agriland took a trip to Blessington Mart in Co.Wicklow on Thursday morning (February 27) where there was a strong demand for quality calves in the ring.

Calf prices have been very strong across the country since the start of the year and the trade was no different in Blessington, with the top price reaching €420 for a Belgian Blue bull.

Auctioneer at Blessington Mart, Tom Doyle, spoke with Agriland on the day and said "there was a strong trade for all types of calves, no matter what breed".

The auctioneer added: "There's a lot of farmers looking to buy, even more than the years before and I expect it to get busier in the next month".

The calf sale saw over 50 calves take to the ring where strong Friesian bull calves were making between €130 and €275.

Prices for a group of Simmental cross bull calves are as follows:

Sample prices of Aberdeen Angus cross heifers are as follows:

Sample prices of Hereford cross heifers are as follows:

Prices of two strong Belgian Blue cross bulls that came through the ring are as follows:

Speaking about the Friesian bull calf trade, Tom said: "There's a big change in Friesian bull prices this year, they are up serious money, they are up double and nearly triple in some cases".

Sample prices of Friesian bull calves that came through the ring are as follows:

The calf trade is undoubtedly very strong in west Wicklow even though it is still early in the year for selling calves in that part of the country.

Tom Doyle said that Blessington is typically a bit later than other marts to see a surge of calves through the ring.

The auctioneer said "from this week onwards and for the next month to six weeks, we should see a good influx of calves".