Cull cow prices for dairy-bred stock are exceeding €1.60/kg for well-fleshed animals.
Prices at marts for heifers and bullocks continue to move upwards across the country. As factory prices move up to €4/kg for heifers, prices are moving at a similar pace in marts.
In the last week, prices for heifers weighing 600kg-plus saw the average price hit €2.32/kg. This price is up 11c/kg on the week. Better-quality heifers saw a 5c/kg rise on the week to settle at €2.52/kg.
As numbers of cattle fit for slaughter are getting tight, the lesser-quality animals are seeing the biggest increases, with the bottom third of 600kg-plus heifers rising by 17c/kg on the week to settle at an impressive €2.10/kg.