Beef prices have kicked on again this week, with bullocks now moving at a base price of €4.15-€4.25 and heifers moving at €4.20-€4.35/kg.

Cows have also improved in the last seven days, with €3.80-€3.90/kg now on the table for R+ suckler cows in some factories.

Under-24-month bulls have also taken a lift, with €4.35-€4.45 being quoted for R and U grading bulls. Flat deals of €4.75/kg are available for Aberdeen Angus cattle.

Finished cattle are in very short supply, with all of the main processors now very active in marts hoovering up supplies of finished cattle. A number of smaller wholesaler operators have been particularly strong around the ring in the last week, especially for cows, with the equivalent of €4.10-€4.20/kg deadweight being paid for cows in marts.

IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden said: “Cattle supplies are predicted to be extremely tight over the coming months and as the seasonal summer demand increases, the volume of sales, factories must maximise returns to farmers in the favourable market conditions.”

Numbers exported for direct slaughter to Northern Ireland last week stood at 413 head, with total exports to NI for direct slaughter this year running at 8,074 head.

Meanwhile, the Emerald Isle Beef Producers group is increasing the numbers sent for direct slaughter to Britain.

Eamon Corley said “We have been able to send eight artic loads or 300 cattle in the last two months. We are looking for cattle with our buyers having the ability to take 10 artic load a week if we could get them. The group is currently paying €2.60/kg liveweight for R= or better and €2.50/kg liveweight for O+ or R-. This price is for continental heifers or bullocks under 750kg liveweight.