Up to €425 for continental bull calves

SCARCITY of cattle continues to be the driving force behind the beef prices at the factories this week, in a gradually hardening market.

While the rate of weekly price increase has slowed, producers of good quality stock are still holding out for that little more each week before deciding to part with their animals, and this hard sell has maintained the consistent improvement which has been the pattern of trade since early spring.

Most of the factories across the south and midlands continue to quote just shy of 100p/lb for R grade animals this week, at 99p or 98p/lb.