France: The calf market is more balanced, with stable prices

Fattening and breeding calves – If there were not so many calves positive for FCO PCR, the Spanish market would import more calves. This constraint maintains high prices in Spain, while the costs incurred to comply with health constraints (PCR, sorting, replacement, etc.) penalize French calves. This situation largely benefits national integrators. Trade remains very complicated in Holsteins, Normans, Abondances or Montbéliards with price levels that often come after the quotas granted by the integrators. Calf collectors, who are in contact with breeders, suffer from degraded commercial relations. Calves weighing less than 45kg or without potential are refused by buyers and find themselves without commercial value. Prices are stabilizing in good Prim’Holsteins, Montbéliards or crossbred calves, destined for Spain with a negative PCR. The situation is identical with stable prices in good taupe, grey, white, blue or yellow calves of average conformation. Prices are holding steady in ...