Last week’s kill recorded 35,813 head, over 3,000 above the same period in 2013. While the kill is running significantly higher, it is clear that factories are keen to handle the higher numbers and capitalise on strong export demand.

Base prices remain relatively unchanged at €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg for steers and €4.00/kg for heifers.

Cattle coming fit for slaughter faster are providing a strong floor under supply and cancelling out the need for factories to significantly increase activity.

While this may be the case, factories also do not want to miss out on any deals and are particularly anxious to tie into longer-term deals for cattle on hand.

Their demand is also shown by many plants keen to maximise processing over the Christmas period, with a couple of plants reported to be processing on Saturdays to maintain throughput.

A base price of €4.10/kg has been reported as being offered to specialist heifer producers to entice sales over the Christmas period.

Steers are trading in small numbers at a base of €3.90/kg, with sellers with higher numbers or more negotiating power securing €3.95/kg.

Likewise, most heifers are moving at a base of €4.00/kg, with large lots or specialist producers securing a base of €4.05/kg.

Supplies are tighter as you progress north into the midlands and northwest. Flat-priced deals for butcher or wholesale-type heifers range from €3.90/kg to €4.00/kg for quality assured lots, with a 10c to 15c/kg premium for Angus and Hereford bred stock.

Quality assurance (QA) status remains a sticky issue in negotiations.

Many plants continue to penalise non-QA cattle and are offering a 10c/kg to 15/kg lower base quote, despite an agreement to end dual base pricing in the last beef forum.

Great difficulty also remains in finding a resolution to the agreement to pay a bonus on all steers and heifers from QA farms from 1 January.

It appears all sides are keen not to alter the 12c/kg QPS bonus, but finding a resolution in a cost-neutral manner will mean funds have to come from somewhere else in the chain.

There are big differences in cow quotes between plants.

O grading Friesian cows range in price from €3.15/kg to €3.30/kg, with continental cows ranging from €3.25 to €3.35/kg.

Likewise, R grades range from €3.30/kg to €3.50/kg at the top of the market, with U grades selling from €3.55/kg to €3.70/kg.

R and U grade bulls are trading in the main at €3.90/kg and €4.00/kg, respectively.

A premium of 10c/kg to 15c/kg is reported to producer groups or specialist producers.

O grading Friesian bulls are trading from €3.55/kg to €3.70/kg, with mixed O and R grade lots selling from €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg.

IFA Livestock Committee chairman Henry Burns said it is very evident that agents do not want to miss out on any deals and are willing to compete harder to secure cattle. He said there are also deals being done for Christmas and new year, with factories keen secure any cattle coming on stream with higher prices being offered.