The mart trade has taken another lift in the past week.

Mart managers have said that farmer demand continues to be the main driving point, and the best demand is for stores.

Heifer prices have seen the sharpest lift in prices in the last week, both weanling heifers and store heifers. Short-keep cattle prices are holding firm, held back by only modest factory price increases.

The number of cattle on offer in marts is relatively small throughout the country as numbers are starting to tail off in the runup to Christmas. This restriction in numbers on offer combined with strong demand is another contributing factor to the improved prices.

Cow numbers are still quite low, and the trade is quite steady. Thin and old Friesian cows are still selling from €0.80/kg to €0.90/kg, with parlour cows selling from €1.00/kg to €1.10/kg.

Continental feeding cows carrying some flesh are still selling mainly from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg, with fleshed continentals making over €1.80/kg at times. Older and thin continental cows are still a variable trade, selling from their weight to €1.30/kg depending on quality.

Steers

While lighter store bullocks have been met with another price lift, over-aged steers are relatively steady, with some better quality types just edging up slightly. The average 450kg bullock is selling for €925/head, 5c/kg or €20/head more than the same week last year. U grades in the same weight range are selling from €940 to €1,175/head. Forward steers are not being met with as strong of a demand, curtailed by beef prices. The average 550kg steer is selling from €1,075 to €1,130/head. Average prices of these are on par with the same week last year.

Heifers

Heifer prices have been met with a strong increase. Again the biggest increase has occurred in the case of lighter store heifers, with overage heifers a stagnant trade. Heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg, with U grades selling to over €2.30/kg. Average prices have increased by up to €40/head in some sales, with better-quality heifers seeing the largest price increases. Forward store heifers have seen prices strengthen slightly also, with average-quality types now selling for twice the weight.

Weanlings

Both weanling bulls and heifers have seen an increase in prices paid in the past week. However, in many sales the quality on offer has improved also, with less dairy cross stock on offer. The average 350kg bulls is selling for €2.20/kg or €770/head, with the top third selling for €2.55/kg or €890/head. Prices are 7c/kg or €25/head above the same time last year. Lighter bulls have seen a slight increase also, but by just 3c/kg for average-quality types. Weanling heifers have been met with a stronger price increase and they are back on par with weanling bulls.