Price increases 'must be on the table' with supplies of finished cattle tightening

The most expensive cattle are those produced by winter finishers. Prices have moved up just 24c per kg since the beginning of the year.

Up to the end of April, supplies only reduced by 30,000, which points to a significant tightening in numbers of finished cattle for the next two to three months, the IFA said. 

With it anticipated that demand will increase over the coming weeks and supplies of finished cattle tightening, price increases "must be on the table", the Irish Farmers' Association has said.

IFA livestock chairman Brendan Golden said this week that the "stagnant" beef prices farmers are receiving are not reflecting the costs on farms for producing cattle from sheds.