Factories have had to row back on the negative price pressure put on heifers in recent weeks.

With last week’s heifer kill falling close to 400 head and tighter supplies remaining, plants that were trying to quote a base of €3.90/kg have reversed quotes to €3.95/kg, with others paying a base of €4.00/kg at the higher end of the market. Steers, in contrast, continue to face negative price pressure, with many plants quoting a base of €3.80/kg. Some are purchasing at this level but others are still paying €3.85/kg to secure deals.

IFA national livestock committee chair Angus Woods said the continuing pressure on cattle prices from the factories is not justified and contrasts it with the lift in cattle prices in the UK.

“Despite the spin from factories to farmers, the reality is cattle prices in the UK have increased by more than 13.5p/kg since Brexit and the real sterling devaluation is only 7%,” he said. “The UK R3 steer price has increased from £3.32/kg (€4.15/kg including VAT) on 19 June to £3.45p/kg (€4.32/kg) last week.”

Woods also advised farmers against presenting under- finished stock for slaughter, pointing to strong grass supplies and benefits in the price received by marketing cattle at the correct stage for slaughter.