Over the hooks cow prices usually peak at the end of winter as a result of tighter supplies and the US summer demand period.

At the same time last year, prices peaked at 263¢ before falling rapidly to a low of 217¢/kg cwt at the end of October.

Prices have been rising since the beginning of the year despite the appreciation of the A$ – due to increased demand for manufacturing product from both the US, Russia and South Asia.

Prices are still well below those of 2006, when they peaked at 285¢/kg cwt for medium weight cows.

Over the past week, all states except Tasmania and WA registered increases to over-the-hooks cow prices.

The highest quoted prices for heavy cows over 320kg cwt were:

- 260¢ in WA,

- 285¢ in Tasmania and

- 310¢/kg cwt in SA, Victoria and NSW.

In Queensland, southern prices were as high as 305¢ and northern prices up to 285¢/kg cwt.