While the number on offer in marts is steady, the cow kill is almost 2,000 head below the same week last year. This, combined with strong demand for manufacturing beef, has resulted in cow beef prices running about 20c/kg to 25c/kg above the same week last year. This has resulted in the firm cull cow trade. Dairy cows are starting to come to the fore, but farmers are holding back a little due to strong milk prices. In addition, those who are selling are opting to sell as empty cows still in milk to other dairy farmers in the hope of maximising prices. Where yield is still good, prices of €700/head to €800/head are being achieved. For more details on options for empty cows, see p28-29.

Dry cows straight from the parlour are selling from €0.90/kg to €1.10/kg in marts, with jersey crosses making from €0.80/kg up. Warm store cows carrying some flesh are selling from €1.20/kg to €1.40/kg, with few fleshed Friesian cows breaching the €1.60/kg mark.

Continental cull cows are firm trade, though thin, old and plain types are a little slower to sell. Fleshed continental cows are selling mainly from €1.80/kg to €1.92/kg, with top-quality young cow/heifers making up to €2.10/kg in some areas. The majority of continental feeding cows are selling from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg, but where quality is poor or cows are old, thin and have small frames, prices of €1.20/kg to €1.40/kg are common.