Last week’s beef kill increased 262 head to 34,944. The increase in the kill was driven by 344 more heifers and 237 more steers being processed, more than compensating for the continuing seasonal reduction in the cow kill (reduced 355 head).

The ongoing high kill, boosted by shed-finished cattle appearing in strong numbers, is leaving factories in a strong position when negotiating on price.

Prices for the majority of cattle being traded remain unchanged at a base of €3.70/kg for steers and €3.80/kg for heifers.

There are still cattle trading at the top of the market commanding a base of €3.75/kg and €3.85/kg respectively, but the scope for other sellers increasing to this level has tightened.

It should also be noted that there are still a small number of sellers in some areas with a weak negotiating position or out-of-spec stock trading on a base of €3.65/kg for steers.

Given the time of year, there is also some heavy carcase steers that are approaching, or have just exceeded, 30 months of age coming on stream.

These are being handled differently depending on the number of animals deemed overweight and the purchasing plant.

In many cases, if it is a small number falling outside the required spec, there is no problem. Where the majority of animals in the group are deemed too heavy, some plants are offering a flat price of €3.70/kg, while others are quoting a 20c/kg lower base quote for heavy/overage lots. It is worth clarifying in the case of animals under 30 months of age what is the situation with the 12c/kg quality payment scheme (QPS) bonus.

Cows and bulls

The bull kill remains solid. U grade bulls are selling from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg, Rs from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg and Os anywhere from €3.50/kg to €3.65/kg depending on quality and numbers on offer.

Bulls less than 16 months of age are trading on the grid at a base of €3.70/kg. This excludes the 12c/kg QPS in-spec bonus.

Cows also remain steady. P+3 grading cows are selling from €2.85/kg to €3.00/kg, with O grade Friesians rising from here to €3.10/kg and possibly 5c/kg higher for suckler-bred cows. R grades are selling from €3.15/kg to €3.30/kg, with U grades from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg.

As always, prices vary significantly between plants, with heavy deductions also in place for under-fleshed light carcase cows.

NI and British round-up

Northern prices are robust and, if anything, specialised finishers are attracting a higher premium from the market. Regular sellers are being offered a U3- base of £3.48/kg to £3.50/kg. With sterling steady at 85p to the euro, this equates to €4.30/kg to €4.33/kg including VAT.

Reports show sellers handling higher numbers negotiating prices up to £3.54/kg (€4.38/kg), with those with supply arrangements securing higher. Numbers moving north remain small, with 71 cattle exported for direct slaughter last week compared with 499 a year earlier.

British prices remain largely unchanged. R4L heifers and steers are coming closer together on average price at £3.65/kg (€4.52/kg), with the AHDB reporting heifers continuing to edge upwards.

O grading cows in the North are at £2.50/kg (€3.10/kg), with O grades across the water selling from £2.30/kg to £2.40/kg (€2.85/kg to €2.97/kg).