While factories have moved in recent weeks to dampen the beef trade, prices paid for cull cows has held firm. This has underpinned a very strong cull cow trade at mart rings around the country. The best demand continues to be for good-quality short-keep and slaughter-fit types. The trade for feeding cows is holding quite well also. At the top of the market, the majority of fleshed and short-keep suckler cows are selling from €1.80/kg to €1.95/kg, with some very well-conformed cows or cow heifers still breaching the €2.00/kg mark. Good-quality feeding continentals are selling from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg. Friesians carrying little flesh are selling from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg, while old boner cows and poor-quality Jersey-crosses are making from €0.80/kg to €1.00/kg. There are some fleshed Friesian cows still passing through marts at prices of €1.35/kg to €1.55/kg.