Settled weather could stabilise varied calf trade

A £60-£70/t rise in calf mix has combined with inclement weather to force a 25-30% drop in continental-cross baby calf prices since August.

Auctioneers say erratic weather patterns over recent weeks and rising feed costs have made some buyers reassess their budgets.

Best calves remain at a strong price, but the second-quality and younger calves have seen prices ease.

AHDB data for three-week-old calves shows a mid-August average price for continental bull calves of £270 a head. This fell to just below £200 a head in November.

See also: Farmers left counting the cost of ‘brutal’ Storm Arwen

Salisbury

Ian Tanner of Southern Counties Auctioneers has seen a gap widen between the strongest, first-choice O+ and R-grade calves and the younger, narrower types and Holsteins.

This is due to a smaller pool of buyers in recent weeks, allowing selective bidding, and the increased cost of calf feed.

Mr Tanner said a five-week-old Angus bull calf approaching 60kg could make £220-£250, but the same type under 50kg might be only £120-£130 a head.

“Costs have gone up, but calves have looked a bit more buyable in recent weeks,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said store prices could be contained in the spring if fertiliser costs stayed at current levels.

“One business told me it wouldn’t buy stock after fertiliser cost had risen from £25 an acre to £70 an acre,” he said.

Leek

Challenging calf-rearing weather meant prices remained restricted by cautious bidding at Leek last week (30 November) despite a smaller entry of young calves.

Oliver Hiles, prime cattle and calf auctioneer at Bagshaws, saw 90 calves go under the hammer, which is back on the usual 130-150 head of two-to-six-week-olds.

But he said trade was being supported by farms opting to buy younger calves for £250 rather than cattle at £800, and deadweight beef prices of more than £4/kg.

“If the weather settles down and stays cold it will help rearers,” said Mr Hiles. “We’ve had days of -10C and 10C following each other, which isn’t good for rearing calves.

“Corn prices, diesel costs up above 70p/litre and decent calf mixes costing around £300/t are all on people’s minds.”

He said nice, strong and square Friesian calves regularly hit £130-£150, with the processing-type Holsteins at £28-£35 a head and better rearing Holsteins at £50-£70.

An entry of 18 Blue-cross bulls topped at £440 and averaged £264, while 14 heifers levelled at £216 and £275.