Department figures also show cattle supplies at export meat plants for the week ending October 10 stood at 35,037 head, which was up 6% on the figure for the equivalent week in 2013.

Cumulative supplies for the year to-date are 12% or 129,000 head above the figures for the corresponding period last year, currently standing at 1.29 million head. Throughput of prime cattle is up by 14%.

Despite this the Irish Farmers Association latest cattle market update reports strong demand for stock this week.

It says base prices for steers are being quoted at €3.65/3.70, heifers €3.70/3.80, bulls €3.80 (U) and cows €3.00/3.60.

Bord Bia reports the cattle trade has shown little change with demand and price remaining relatively steady. It says across our key export markets the trade remains similar to that of the previous week.

Bord Bia report that officail prices remained steady last week. The majority of steers and heifers were purchased at a base price of between €3.60 and €3.70/kg on the Quality Payment System. These prices exclude the €0.12/kg bonus which is payable on in-spec QA animals. Prices paid for O grade cull cows are generally making between €3.05 to €3.20/kg.

In Britain, it says reported cattle prices from the AHDB have risen with GB R4L grade steers averaging at Stg 358.9 pence/kg dw (equivalent to 458.7c/kg dw) for the week ended September 27. Trade remains steady over the past week with some increase in demand for forequarter cuts and striploins. In France, the trade remains steady with little change reported. There are some promotions at present for chucks, topsides and striploins. In Italy the trade was described as slow with a decrease in prices reported.