In the west and northwest, it has been driven by volume and weather, while in the south and southeast, good ground conditions are resulting in farmers being able to withstand the offloading of cattle until peak numbers have passed.

While short-keep bullocks and heifers remain quite a strong trade, stores and in particular plainer types of stores have been a little slower to sell, as have plain quality cull cows.

Weanlings continue to be a lively trade, although with little to no export demand for light bulls, this has had an impact on prices over the past two weeks. The trade for these is now primarily driven by farmer demand.

Fleshed continental cull cows are a fairly steady trade, with the majority selling from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg and young and top-quality types are making up to €2.00/kg and slightly over. Plain, old and thin cows are a more variable trade with a little less activity for them.

Steers

While forward steers have held firm and recovered slightly, the average 600kg steer is selling for about €1,200, with Angus and Herefords making €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg. Stores from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €1,100 to €1,200, with U grades making up to €1,300/head. Light stores have been a little slower to sell once again, with the average 450kg steer making €920, while Frieisan types are selling from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg. The top third are selling for about €1,100/head.

Heifers

The heifer trade is a mirror image of the steer trade, with prices running marginally ahead of steers in some categories. While average steer prices are running behind the same time last year, the average heifer price for forward stores is slightly ahead of last year. An average-quality 600kg heifer is making €1,240, with U grades making a premium of up to €140/head on this. Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling for €825 to €1,030 for average-quality types.

Weanlings

The weanling trade is still holding well. Heavy bulls over 450kg are being met with strong feedlot demand, while those from 300kg to 400kg are selling from €710 to €944/head, with the top third in quality terms making a premium of €140/head on this. Demand for light bulls has fallen and so too have prices, but in the past few days they have started to steady due to farmer demand. Weanling heifers prices are mirroring bull prices, with average 300kg to 400kg types running slightly behind on a price per kilo basis.

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