The beef trade is continuing in good stead. Steers are moving in the main at a base of €4.10/kg, with producers with greater negotiating power securing a base of €4.15/kg. Securing a higher base of €4.25/kg for heifers is a better prospect for sellers, with a rising percentage of cattle trading at this level. There are still significant numbers moving at the lower base of €4.20/kg, but the number is falling.

Last week’s throughput will not be known until tomorrow, but early indications suggest it was another good week’s kill that will be similar or not far off the previous week. The strength of the trade means that agents are keen to secure as many cattle as possible, particularly as numbers of steers and heifers are expected to be much tighter for a two- to three-week period.

Bulls

Bulls are selling in general for €4.05/kg and €4.15/kg for R and U grades respectively. This excludes producer bonuses for specialist finishers. Carcase weight has also become much less of an issue, with the exception of very heavy bulls from 470kg to 500kg which are a slower trade in some plants. That said, negotiating power is driving sales and plants are slow to miss out on big group numbers and are willing to compromise where only a small percentage of a sales lot are deemed out of spec. Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are being quoted a base of €4.05/kg in most plants. Some sellers are securing a base of €4.10/kg, with difficulty exceeding this range.

Cow trade

Cows are a super trade in direct factory sales and marts. P+3 grades are selling from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg in general, while O grades are ranging from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg. Again sellers with greater negotiating power are securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.

NI trade

The northern trade is also buoyant, with prices rising by 2p/kg to 3p/kg in the last week. U-3 base steer and heifer quotes range from £3.58/kg to £3.60/kg, which at Monday evening’s weaker exchange rate of 86.5p equates to €4.36/kg to €4.39/kg including VAT at 5.4%. Similar to the south, producers with higher numbers and supplying regularly are securing higher prices, with returns reported ranging from the mid- to high-£3.60s.

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Sheep market update: plenty of bite in lamb trade