Heifer prices in the Republic of Ireland have fallen by 19c/kg in the space of a month, the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) has said.

The average heifer price in the Republic of Ireland was 394.0c/kg in the week ending July 17, 2016, according to the LMC, 18.1c/kg above the EU average price.

The Republic of Ireland has dropped to sixth place in the EU table, a fall of two places. The north/south heifer price differential currently stands at 2.1c/kg for R3 grade heifers.

The euro strengthened against Sterling with €1= 83.9p in the week ending July 17, compared to €1= 79.2p in the week ending June 19, 2016.

The average R3 heifer price in the EU was 375.9c/kg, back from 379.9c/kg last month, a decrease of 4c/kg. 

Britain dropped from fourth to third in the league table, with an equivalent R3 heifer price of 403.8c/kg on the week ending July 17, 2016.

This was a 16.4c/kg reduction from the 420.2c/kg paid during the week ending June 19. The differential between R3 heifer prices in Britain and the EU average narrowed from 40.3c/kg to 27.9c/kg in the space of a month, according to the figures.

Heifer prices in Northern Ireland decreased by 18.7c/kg between June 19 and July 17, 2016.

In the week ending July 17, the R3 heifer price in Northern Ireland reached 391.9c/kg, which saw them drop to seventh place in the EU league table, having been in fifth place the previous month.

The differential between the R3 heifer price in Northern Ireland and the EU average narrowed from 30.7c/kg in the week ending June 19 to 16.0c/kg in the week ending July 17, 2016.

The biggest mover this month has seen Luxembourg jump from 6th place to 3rd, with R3 heifer prices reaching 412.3c/kg on the week ending July 17, the LMC figures show.

LMC EU Deadweigth cattle prices 25th July