Early reports suggest the cattle trade will continue firm this week.
The cattle trade has continued its upward momentum recently on the back of continued good demand coupled with tight supplies, according to Bord Bia. Trade was reported as mixed across our key export markets.
The latest cattle supplies at export meat plants for the week ending June 6 stood at under 27,000 head which was 9% behind supplies for the same week last year. Cumulative supplies for the year to date are down around 5% on supplies for the corresponding period last year at around 689,000 head.
In Britain, Bord Bia says reported cattle prices from the AHDB have firmed with GB R4L grade steers averaging at Stg 338.8p/kg dw (equivalent to 465.30c/kg dw) for the week ended June 6.
Bord Bia says the trade was reported as showing some improvement on the back of a tightening in supplies. It says demand was best for strips and rumps due to the good weather.
In France Bord Bia says little change has been reported in the trade while in Italy, recent bank holidays resulted in a slower trade last week with the trade continuing to be underpinned by slow demand and increased competition.