The cattle trade strengthened again this week with factory and mart prices increasing for all types. Factory quotes are up to as high as €4.30/kg for heifers, €4.10 for steers, with 5c shy of those figures freely available. Throughput remains strong at these prices, with 31,000 animals killed last week. Stock can now be slaughtered at a day’s notice. It’s becoming a seller’s market.

Live cattle prices are also improving, driven by low supply and improving beef prices. Mart managers agree that the real test of prices will not occur for another week or two when numbers naturally tend to increase.

Store cattle prices have improved due to increased finisher demand. Store cattle prices have increased by about €30-€50/head in the past two weeks, while weanling and heifers have also been met with price increases. Demand for cull cows has increased, particularly in the south as feeders buy fleshed cows; farmer demand for feeding cows has increased also. The calf trade is strong, driven again by tight supply.

There is some concern developing that dairy farmers are holding calves to feed them milk, which may have knock-on implications for export prospects.

Sheep trade

The sheep trade is strong and improving. Lambs are making €5.40/kg, up 10c/kg from last week. Supplies are thinning out, with the kill back 4,000 last week.

IFA Livestock chairman Henry Burns said feeders with cattle to sell are digging in and insisting on higher prices, with factories finding it harder to get cattle.

“The strength of sterling against the euro has added 12-13c/kg on to the returns from the UK market,” he said. He stressed that 2015 offers live export opportunities, which the IFA will drive.