Irish Farmers Journal MartWatch analysis shows record prices for cattle in Irish marts across most categories for the first half of 2015. However, current factory prices need to hold firm and improve to ensure these animals leave a margin.

Forward 550kg steers made an average of €1,258 around rings, up €120 (10%) on 2014. While these prices were bettered in 2012, 500kg heifers surged to a record average price of €1,210/head in the first half of this year.

The same pattern is evident among bull and heifer weanlings, with 350kg bulls averaging €879/head, up €93, while 300kg heifers averaged €778, a similar rise.

The reality is that the current beef price would have to be obtained for all these animals for them not to die in debt. Increased costs mean current prices are necessary to maintain the viability of suckler farmers, but weanling and store buyers need to be careful not to get squeezed in the middle.

Meanwhile, the Animal Identification and Movement system (AIM) report for 2014 has confirmed that increased calf births stem from dairy dams with beef sires.

An extra 45,000 calves were born to dairy cows last year, almost all to beef sires, as breeding for dairy expansion slowed from its 2013 peak.

This trend has been repeated and accentuated this year, with a reported 110,000 extra calves from dairy cows. The evidence to hand suggests 90,000 of these are from Hereford and Angus sires.

Live exports will not provide an outlet for the crop of 2014 or 2015 at current prices, with French and German prices for bull beef unusually in line with Irish prices – they normally are well ahead.

Read more on this story in our Mart Price Focus here.