The beef trade is holding mostly firm with a high percentage of steers and heifers continuing to trade on a base of €3.90/kg and €4.00/kg respectively. Some plants have lowered their base quote to €3.85/kg and €3.95/kg but are also being forced to pay 5c/kg higher, especially to farmers with significant numbers of young cattle on hand.
Supplies are reported as being tightest in the west and midlands with cattle later going to grass while finishing dates are not running as much behind target in the south and east but are still said to be running a few weeks behind in many areas.
Flat priced deals for quality assured Friesian steers under 24 months of age ran in general from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for O=/+ types with lesser quality quoted lots 10c/kg to 15c/kg lower although cuts are also being influenced by the number of cattle on offer and negotiating power of the seller.
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Cows under pressure
The cow trade remains in the firing line with some plants looking to take another 10c/kg off quotes. This is not occurring in all areas and has resulted in a differential occurring with P+3 grading cows selling from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg and fleshed O grading cows from €2.90/kg to €3.05/kg to specialised finishers trading at the higher end of the market. R grades are selling from €3.15/kg to €3.30/kg with heavy, fleshed R and U grade cows capable of attracting greater competition.
Bulls steady
The bull kill is still being largely supplied by specialised finishers, many of which have supply arrangements with individual factories. Bulls under 24 months of age are selling in the main from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for R’s and €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg for U’s. Sellers with small numbers are in most cases securing the lower quote. Small numbers of Friesian bulls are trading from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg for fleshed O grades while bulls less than 16 months of age are trading on a base of €85/kg to €3.90/kg.
Disrupted sales in NI
The normal sales pattern into northern plants is being disrupted this week by the holiday period in the north. Many agents have bought forward with quotes holding steady at a U-3 base of £3.20/kg to £3.24/kg. Deals are being completed 4p/kg to 8p/kg higher at the higher end of the market with the trade continuing to benefit from fluctuations in exchange rates. The sterling to euro exchange rate remains at 85p to the euro after last Wednesday’s change from 83p to the euro.
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The beef trade is holding mostly firm with a high percentage of steers and heifers continuing to trade on a base of €3.90/kg and €4.00/kg respectively. Some plants have lowered their base quote to €3.85/kg and €3.95/kg but are also being forced to pay 5c/kg higher, especially to farmers with significant numbers of young cattle on hand.
Supplies are reported as being tightest in the west and midlands with cattle later going to grass while finishing dates are not running as much behind target in the south and east but are still said to be running a few weeks behind in many areas.
Flat priced deals for quality assured Friesian steers under 24 months of age ran in general from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for O=/+ types with lesser quality quoted lots 10c/kg to 15c/kg lower although cuts are also being influenced by the number of cattle on offer and negotiating power of the seller.
Cows under pressure
The cow trade remains in the firing line with some plants looking to take another 10c/kg off quotes. This is not occurring in all areas and has resulted in a differential occurring with P+3 grading cows selling from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg and fleshed O grading cows from €2.90/kg to €3.05/kg to specialised finishers trading at the higher end of the market. R grades are selling from €3.15/kg to €3.30/kg with heavy, fleshed R and U grade cows capable of attracting greater competition.
Bulls steady
The bull kill is still being largely supplied by specialised finishers, many of which have supply arrangements with individual factories. Bulls under 24 months of age are selling in the main from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for R’s and €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg for U’s. Sellers with small numbers are in most cases securing the lower quote. Small numbers of Friesian bulls are trading from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg for fleshed O grades while bulls less than 16 months of age are trading on a base of €85/kg to €3.90/kg.
Disrupted sales in NI
The normal sales pattern into northern plants is being disrupted this week by the holiday period in the north. Many agents have bought forward with quotes holding steady at a U-3 base of £3.20/kg to £3.24/kg. Deals are being completed 4p/kg to 8p/kg higher at the higher end of the market with the trade continuing to benefit from fluctuations in exchange rates. The sterling to euro exchange rate remains at 85p to the euro after last Wednesday’s change from 83p to the euro.
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