The demand is seeing those straight from the parlour selling for close to the weight on average.

Plainer and thin cows are making €0.80/kg to €0.90/kg, with very plain cows and Jersey-crosses selling from €0.65 to €0.70/kg in some areas.

Where cows are younger and carrying some flesh, prices of €1.10/kg to €1.30/kg are being paid, with top-quality fleshed Friesian cows selling from €1.40/kg to €1.55/kg in some areas.

The supply of empty continental cows is high, with some farmers who are short of fodder opting to scan and sell empty cows live early in order to help reduce fodder demand. While the prices paid for plainer and feeding types have slipped in recent weeks, prices paid for fleshed types are quite steady, driven by firm beef prices.

In general, continental feeding cows are making from €1.40/kg to €1.65/kg where cows are in good flesh and relatively young. Where older plain and thin cows are on offer, prices are ranging from €1.00/kg for poor-quality types to €1.20/kg for slightly better types. The trade for fleshed and short-keep cows is much steadier than that for those in need a lot of feeding. Prices in the main range from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg and up to €2.00/kg and slightly above for better-quality types and for young cow/heifers.