The majority of cattle processed on Monday and Tuesday have been purchased at a base of €3.65/kg for steers and €3.75/kg for heifers.

However, factories purchasing cattle for later in the week are quoting 5c/kg lower, with steers on a base of €3.60/kg and heifers at €3.70/kg. Frequent sellers continue to have success negotiating the higher quotes for cattle moving later in the week, but reports suggest this is getting harder to secure.

The latest reduction in price is hitting confidence of winter finishers hard, with many reports suggesting a percentage of finishers will not fill their units, while others are planning on storing animals over the winter.

This, along with a reduction in beef prices, has translated into mart sales with plainer cattle worst hit in recent weeks.

It is surprising that demand for Friesian steers in the west and northwest has remained robust relative to higher-quality cattle. Flat-priced deals for well fleshed O=/+ grading steers under 30 months and quality assured (QA) are ranging from €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg.

Non-QA penalty

It is worth a reminder to sellers trading non-QA cattle to query potential penalties before trading. Cuts of 30c/kg to 40c/kg have been quoted in some plants, while, in others, cuts are negligible to 10c/kg to 15c/kg.

Cows in the crossfire

Cows continue to be caught in the crossfire of a prime kill under pressure, although prices seem to be better, resisting this week’s pull. Small numbers are trading on average for €2.90/kg for Os, €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg for Rs and €3.20/kg to €3.25/kg for Us.

There are some higher prices being paid in cow specialist plants to specialised finishers. Prices vary massively for under-fleshed light-carcase cows with very poor-quality cows, with very little flesh selling upwards of €2/kg to €2.30/kg.

Steady in Northern Ireland

While Irish prices continue to be hammered by Brexit-related issues, Northern Ireland prices remain steady, with current U-3 quotes at £3.30/kg to £3.36/kg for steers and heifers (equivalent to €3.89/kg to €3.96/kg at 89p to the euro including VAT).

LMC reported last week’s average prime cattle price reducing 1p/kg on average, with cows easier by 3p/kg to 4p/kg. O3 grading cows averaged £2.49/kg, which is the equivalent of €2.94/kg.

The steer kill is holding steady, with exports from the south for direct slaughter falling to their lowest level for quite some time, reported at just less than 20 head.

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