Marts: There was no movement in the average price paid for R grade bullocks and heifers at the factories last week, while a margin of 40c/kg (14p/lb) opened up between factories for cull cows as prices came under downward pressure.

Marts: Apart from a top price of almost 110p/lb paid for R grade heifers at one factory, the beef trade at the factories remained steady with only a fractional downward change in the average prices paid to producers for last week.

A hard sell by producers of beef animals maintained the average price at the factories, while individual factories paid up to 1p/lb more for R grade bullocks in a tight supply situation for the post-Easter trade.