The trade remains unchanged, with most deals for tomorrow negotiated late last week. Steers are trading in the main on a base of €4.05/kg, while heifers are trading mainly on a base of €4.15/kg.

Regular sellers and those with higher numbers on hand remain in the driving seat and in cases are securing 3c/kg to 5c/kg extra.

Northern Ireland

ADVERTISEMENT

A similar trend is present in Northern Ireland, with base quotes ranging in general from £3.46/kg to £3.52/kg. This is the equivalent of €4.34/kg to €4.42/kg at 84p to the euro and including VAT at 5.4%. Regular sellers and those operating at the higher end of the market continue to secure returns ranging anywhere from 4p/kg to 10p/kg higher.

Cow trade

The cow trade in the south seems to be running ahead of NI, but there is a big variation between what is being quoted and what is being paid.

Fleshed O grading cows continue to trade in the south from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg, with regular sellers securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.

Quotes for O grading cows in Northern Ireland vary from £2.55/kg to £2.60/kg (€3.14/kg to €3.22/kg) but, as is the case with steers and heifers, those with greater negotiating power are securing prices rising to £2.70/kg, putting them on a similar footing to the Republic of Ireland.

Read more

Mart prices hold firm in face of Brexit