Strong demand for steers and heifers persists, with factories trying to balance a period of tighter supplies until significant numbers of grass-finished cattle come on stream.
Their efforts in maintaining throughput are being helped by the recent increase in throughput of cows and bulls.
Prices remain largely unchanged, with average returns rising slightly as more sellers with greater negotiating power secure prices at the higher end of the market.
The majority of steers are trading at a base of €4.15/kg but there are more reports of a base of €4.18/kg to €4.20/kg.
Similarly, heifers are trading in the main at a base of €4.25/kg but again there are more sellers securing a base of €4.28/kg to €4.30/kg.
Cows
Cows prices have steadied, with P+3 grades trading from €3.35/kg to €3.45/kg and O grades from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg.
Those with higher numbers are securing higher prices, with their negotiating strength continuing to be reflected in their purchasing activity in mart sales.
R grades are selling from €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg, with heavy young cows and top-quality U grades selling for 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher in cow specialist plants.
Bulls
Bull prices are unchanged. R and U grades are selling in the main for €4.05/kg and €4.15/kg respectively, with specialist finishers securing a flat price of €4.15/kg for large lots comprising mainly of U grades.
Bulls less than 16 months old are trading at a base of €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, with the best trade for lots less than 400kg carcase weight.
NI and British trade
The British trade also continues to edge upwards.
AHDB reports the latest average prices rising 1p/kg, with similar increases each week for the last few weeks.
R4L steers are marginally ahead of heifers at £3.66/kg and £3.68/kg respectively. With the sterling to euro exchange rate remaining weaker at 87p to the euro, this equates to €4.43/kg to €4.46/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
R3 young bulls are trading from £3.48/kg to £3.52/kg or €4.22/kg to €4.26/kg. O4L cows are averaging £2.70/kg or €3.27/kg.
The differential to Northern Ireland prices remains at a lower level than recent years, with prices rising at a greater intensity than British prices.
U-3 base steer and heifer quotes range from £3.56/kg to £3.60/kg, with returns to those trading at the higher end of the market rising to the mid to high £3.60s.
Read more
Beef price gap with Britain lowest in five years
Cattle prices: trade still booming in Balla Mart
Strong demand for steers and heifers persists, with factories trying to balance a period of tighter supplies until significant numbers of grass-finished cattle come on stream.
Their efforts in maintaining throughput are being helped by the recent increase in throughput of cows and bulls.
Prices remain largely unchanged, with average returns rising slightly as more sellers with greater negotiating power secure prices at the higher end of the market.
The majority of steers are trading at a base of €4.15/kg but there are more reports of a base of €4.18/kg to €4.20/kg.
Similarly, heifers are trading in the main at a base of €4.25/kg but again there are more sellers securing a base of €4.28/kg to €4.30/kg.
Cows
Cows prices have steadied, with P+3 grades trading from €3.35/kg to €3.45/kg and O grades from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg.
Those with higher numbers are securing higher prices, with their negotiating strength continuing to be reflected in their purchasing activity in mart sales.
R grades are selling from €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg, with heavy young cows and top-quality U grades selling for 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher in cow specialist plants.
Bulls
Bull prices are unchanged. R and U grades are selling in the main for €4.05/kg and €4.15/kg respectively, with specialist finishers securing a flat price of €4.15/kg for large lots comprising mainly of U grades.
Bulls less than 16 months old are trading at a base of €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, with the best trade for lots less than 400kg carcase weight.
NI and British trade
The British trade also continues to edge upwards.
AHDB reports the latest average prices rising 1p/kg, with similar increases each week for the last few weeks.
R4L steers are marginally ahead of heifers at £3.66/kg and £3.68/kg respectively. With the sterling to euro exchange rate remaining weaker at 87p to the euro, this equates to €4.43/kg to €4.46/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
R3 young bulls are trading from £3.48/kg to £3.52/kg or €4.22/kg to €4.26/kg. O4L cows are averaging £2.70/kg or €3.27/kg.
The differential to Northern Ireland prices remains at a lower level than recent years, with prices rising at a greater intensity than British prices.
U-3 base steer and heifer quotes range from £3.56/kg to £3.60/kg, with returns to those trading at the higher end of the market rising to the mid to high £3.60s.
Read more
Beef price gap with Britain lowest in five years
Cattle prices: trade still booming in Balla Mart
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