Irish cattle prices continue to climb in Europe, with the average price for an R3 heifer in the Republic 431.9c/kg in the week ending July 26, 2015, the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) says.

The Republic also retains its third place spot on the EU deadweight cattle prices league table.

This latest price for the Republic places it 28.6c/kg above the EU average and it is up 3.2c/kg from the 428.7c/kg paid in the week ending June 28, 2015, it says.

The average R3 heifer price in the EU was 403.3c/kg for the week ending July 26, which the LMC says is up 2.7c/kg from the month previous.

Looking to Northern Ireland, LMC figures show that the average cattle price in the North was the equivalent of 488.3c/kg, up 11.3c/kg from 477.0c/kg paid in the week ending June 28.

This latest cattle price places the North 85.0c/kg higher than the EU average in the week ending July 26 compared to 76.4c/kg in for the corresponding period last month.

The North is now the equivalent of 56.4c/kg higher than the price paid in the Republic and retains its second place spot on the EU cattle prices league table.

Looking to the UK, which retains the top spot on the league table, the average R3 heifer price for the week ending July 26, 2015 was the equivalent of 511.9c/kg, the LMC says.

This, the LMC says, is an increase of 23.1c/kg from the price paid in the week ending June 26.

Furthermore, this increase resulted in the UK/EU price differential widening from 88.2c/kg in the week ending June 28 to 108.6c/kg in the week ending July 26, it says.

The euro was down to €1= 70.11p in the week ending July 26 2015.

Image: Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC)

Image: Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC)