While beef processors have held base quotes for U-3 grading cattle at 354p/kg to 360p/kg, the reality is that farmers are securing deals above these prices.

A price of 360p/kg to 362p/kg is freely available, but cattle agents are becoming increasingly eager to source numbers, putting farmers in a strong selling position.

Finishers with a good supply of cattle are securing deals of 364p/kg to 366p/kg. Those with bigger numbers to offload are reporting deals of 370p/kg and above.

Demand for cull cows is also buoyant on the back of strong sales of manufacturing beef. Quotes are on 300p/kg for R grading cows, with finishers reporting 10p/kg to 20p/kg above this on offer depending on numbers for sale.

Key to the improving beef trade is a significant tightening of cattle numbers both here and in Britain in recent weeks.

In the marts, reports also indicate lower numbers of cull cows offered for sale, as well as less cattle coming through that are suited to a short intensive finishing period.

With specialist finishers continuing to pay between 200p/kg and 220p/kg for finished cattle in marts, this converts to a factory price of 350p/kg to 385p/kg.