The beef price differential between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland narrowed again last week, figures from the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) show.

For the week ending January 24, 2016 the average heifer price in the Republic was 399.0c/kg.

This is a small increase of 0.6c/kg from the 398.4c/kg paid in the week ending December 27, 2015.

Looking to Northern Ireland, the average heifer price paid there for the week ending January 24 was the equivalent of 413.5c/kg.

This latest heifer price league table update shows that the price gap between the North and the south was the equivalent of 14.5c/kg.

The Republic has jumped to fourth place on the league table while the North remains in third.

Meanwhile, Britain continues to hold second place on the league table after it was overtaken by Sweden last month.

For the week ending January 24, the average heifer price in Britain was the equivalent of 441.5c/kg. This was a decrease of 22.0c/kg compared to the week ending December 27 when it was the equivalent of 463.5c/kg.

The British/EU price differential narrowed from 73.6c/kg in the week ending December 27 to 55.8c/kg in the week ending January 24.

Looking at the EU, the average R3 heifer price for the week ending January 24 was back 4.2c/kg from 389.9c/kg in the week ending December 27.

Meanwhile, the LMC said that the euro improved to €1= 76.5p in the week ending January 24, 2016.

Source: LMC

Source: LMC