Prices for cows and bullocks remain stable

Marts: The overall strength in the trade for good-quality heifers was the dominant feature of the factory trade for last week.

The average price paid for bullocks remained firm, while cow prices were also stable.

There was obviously an element of premium price young heifer beef in the kill much more pronounced at some factories than others which would have influenced the overall average price of 88p/lb for R3. The emphasis on quality young beef was underlined with a difference of 7p/lb opening up between R3 and O3 grades, the latter coming in at a weak average of 81p/lb. However, the number of factories that paid an average of more than 88p/lb for their kill of R3 animals reflected a buoyancy in the heifer trade.