Strong factory demand for beef cattle has seen price increases of up to €55/head for some finishing stores this year.

MartWatch analysis of prices paid for heavy bullocks over 600kg has shown that the price paid for the top third increased by €55/head compared to last year.

A similar trend was evident in the prices paid for heavy heifers from January to mid-May, where prices increased by almost €43/head on 2017.

Average-quality short-keep bullocks and heifers saw prices increase by €30 and €38/head respectively for the same period.

Strong beef prices also had an effect on store cattle prices, but the larger increases in prices were seen for better-quality cattle, with plainer types failing to achieve significant price rises.

The top third of 500kg to 600kg bullocks saw the average price paid from January to mid-May run €34/head above the same period last year, while the bottom third saw prices average just €6/head more.

Dairy

In stronger dairy areas, particularly in the south of the country, dairy cross cattle have experienced price pressure this year compared to last year.

This has been most evident in weanlings and store cattle.

Strong beef prices have meant that Angus and Hereford cattle over 500kg have seen a reasonably firm trade, with only modest price reductions evident.

However, MartWatch data shows that the average prices paid for dairy cross Angus and Hereford weanlings and light weanlings are back by €20 to €30/head. In many cases, light weanlings and stores from the dairy herd are running from €60 to €90/head behind the same period last year.