Overall, imports of beef to the UK were up 1,900 tonnes in March, compared with the same month in 2014, to 23,200 tonnes.

Ireland's imports are remaining relatively stable at 16,100 tonnes, while imports from other EU member states showed an increase, compared to March 2014. Eblex says this increase can be attributed to higher availability since the Russian ban on imports and a favourable exchange rate.

Further to our report last week, which highlighted the historically high price differential between the UK and Irish cattle trade deadweight cattle prices in Britain have fallen again for the week ending 9 May. For this week there was a fall of nearly 5p in the GB prime cattle average price to 327.5p/kg.

This was a similar fall to the previous week and the average price has now fallen below the five-year average for the time of year. Since the beginning of April prices for prime cattle have fallen by nearly 20p/kg, with some reports suggesting that prices could remain depressed until June.