The number of prime cattle slaughtered at Department of Agriculture approved beef export plants has jumped 10% in the space of a week.
Figures from the Department show that the throughput of young bulls, steers and heifers increased by just over 2,200 head last week compared to the week before.
Towards the end of last week and into this week, factory buyers were willing to pay an extra 5c/kg on top of the base price in order to secure stock.
And this move appears to have worked, as an additional 2,285 cattle were presented for slaughter during the week ending August 14.
Steers, heifers and young bulls accounted for the majority of this increase, with throughput numbers jumping by 8.9% (1,108 head), 17.8% (414 head) and 11% (696 head) respectively.
While, official figures also show that there was a slight increase in the aged bull kill, with throughput numbers up by 30 head compared to the week earlier, but there was only a small increase in the weekly cow kill.
An extra 26,628 cattle (+2.8%) have been slaughtered in Irish beef plants so far this year, figures from the Department of Agriculture show.
Young bulls make up the majority of this increase as an extra 30,514 have been slaughtered so far this year.
Official figures also show that there has been an increase in cull cow (+3.7%) and steer (+1.9%) throughput.
However, figures from the Department of Agriculture show that there has been a decline in the number of aged bull and heifer slaughterings.
Aged bull slaughterings have declined by 3,940 head, while 727 fewer heifers have been slaughtered so far this year.
Cattle supplies up 27,000 head in 2016