Prime cattle supplies remain finely balanced with just a hint of a price rise beginning to appear as meat industry gears up for increased demand for beef during the Easter holiday period.

Most of the early live markets of this week have witnessed price rises, which in turn usually points to a rise in the deadweight trade where the first signs of improvement albeit extremely slowly, are also beginning to show.

As it is, the GB all prime cattle average gained 0.35p week-on-week, to 355.93p/kg, which is almost 10p per kg above year earlier levels and just 2p ahead of the five year average.

Scottish figures for the week ending March 10, reveal further improvements, with the overall heifer and young bull average rising 1.7p and a massive 15.8p, to 368.9p and 341.2p, respectively, with additional price rises expected this week.

Of greater significance though is the fact that estimated GB prime cattle slaughterings for the week were up 5% on the year (1500 head) at 32,500 and a massive 18% (6300) up on the week following the interruptions caused by the widespread snow.

"Numbers are definitely getting tighter and demand is increasing on the run up to Easter," Billy Stott, prime cattle auctioneer at Harrison and Hetherington's St Boswells market told The Scottish Farmer.

"Supplies will be tighter from now on as the cattle are just not there," he said.

It was a point echoed by John Kyle, managing director and auctioneer at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, who said that despite the fact their last prime cattle sale was the biggest since 2015, with 151 prime bullocks, heifers and young bulls and 88 cast cows and bulls, the cattle were no cheaper.

"I do think the cattle will start to dry up in the next few weeks. We had a good sale last week with the better end (U grade handyweight) bullocks and heifers selling for 220-250p per live kg, with R grades at 205-220p.

"We also have buyers for the heavier weight cattle which are also selling well. Our local butchers will buy up to 650kg, while the smaller butchers are looking for cattle at 550-650kg, but we have wholesale butchers that will take animals at 700+kg.

"And, cast cattle met a flying trade – the dearest since BSE with beef cows to 195p per kg and £1700 per head," he said.

Figures from AHDB also show overall cow prices way above last year at 256.1p per deadweight kg – up 30.7p on 2017 – with carcases meeting the -04L specification gaining 1.3p at 278p. Industry reports continue to suggest demand is still strong too despite estimated slaughterings rising 36% on the week or 2500head to 9500.