A steady finishing trade and the early issue of farm payments have given the live trade a boost over the past week.
Based on Mart Watch data, heifers weighing 500kg to 600kg saw the biggest price increase of 23p/kg on the previous week. This left heifers selling at an average of 207p/kg, making a 580kg animal worth £1,200.
Plainer R-grading heifers at the same weight range saw prices increase by 19p/kg, or £110/head on the same 580kg animal. This puts them on an average price of 187p/kg.
Store heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg had small price increases, with good-quality animals rising by 4p/kg to an average 192p/kg. Plainer animals increased by 7p/kg to 174p/kg.
Steers
Steers weighing 400kg to 500kg saw prices rise by 10p/kg, to an average of 211p/kg on good-quality steers. On a 480kg steers, this increases the sale value by £48 to £1,012 on the previous week.
Plainer cattle, typical of R-grading animals, saw prices increase by 13p/kg to average 182p/kg. On the same 480kg steer, the sale value will have increased by £62/head to £878.
For steers weighing 500kg to 600kg, prices increased by 2p/kg on good-quality animals, to an average of 199p/kg across marts. Plainer cattle increased by 9p/kg, to an average price of 180p/kg.
Heavier cattle, over 600kg, saw good-quality cattle rise by 10p/kg to 198p/kg. This makes a 650kg steer worth £1,293 at the outlined average price.
Charolais and Limousin cattle firm but dairy-cross demand eases
SHARING OPTIONS