Factories have dug in hard on price in the last week and by and large have stalled the upward momentum of previous weeks. Their efforts have been helped by many producers wanting to empty sheds and cease winter feeding.

Last week’s kill was recorded at 28,990, which is relatively firm given one day less of processing.

Some agents report that they have sufficient supplies on hand this week, with continued question marks on supplies until the first cattle finished off grass start to come on stream.

The majority of steers are trading this week on a base of €4.05/kg, while the heifer base has moved from a split of €4.10/kg to €4.15/kg, with most now securing the higher base.

Exceeding this mark is a hard task for the majority of sellers handling average numbers. There are some reports of a base of €4.08/kg to €4.10/kg paid to select specialist steer finishers or those with very high numbers on offer.

A similar case is evident for heifers, with top base prices of €4.18/kg to €4.20/kg. Some plants are more willing to offer deals on transport rather than increase quotes.

Relative to steers and heifers, cows have achieved a higher price rise recently. P+3 grading cows continue to sell in the main from €3.25/kg to €3.35/kg, with fleshed O grades from €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg.

These prices are for cows moving in small numbers or in plants not active in the cow trade, with 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher reported at the higher end of the market.

R grading cows are selling mainly from €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg, but, again, top prices for R and U grades are rising upwards of €3.70/kg to €3.80/kg for choice lots.

Bull price variation

There is also a significant variation in the price paid for bulls, depending on negotiating power.

R grading bulls are selling from €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg, but flat-priced deals of €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg have been completed for sales involving a small percentage of R grades traded with good-quality U grades.

Prices in the Department’s official price table highlight the plants most active for bulls less than 16 months and those working closely with suppliers and offering higher prices.

Bulls less than 16 months are trading in the main on a base of €4.05/kg. The prices in the table include conformation price increases as per the QPS grid, but also the 12c/kg QPS bonus where applicable.

The Northern trade has experienced a similar temporary recovery in throughput, which has helped plants steady the trade.

Base U3- steer and heifer quotes remain at a range of £3.46/kg to £3.50/kg. Sterling continues to fluctuate and has weakened in recent days. At yesterday’s exchange rate of 85p to the euro, this is the equivalent of €4.29/kg to €4.34/kg, including VAT.

Most sellers continue to secure higher than the base quotes, with prices ranging anywhere from 2p/kg to 10p/kg higher.

Exports of cattle from south to north for direct slaughter remain low and were recorded at 220 head last week.

Exports for the year to date total 3,809, significantly below 6,021 in 2016. Similarly, exports from north to south are running at less than half of 2016 levels, with 2,687 fewer moving south at a total of 2,176.

Numbers moving to Britain has flipped, with 2,119 imported in 2017, compared with 886 in 2016, while exports this year are totalling just 567, compared with 2,639 in 2016.