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Factory agents remain very active for stock, with supplies relatively tight in most areas.
As such, sellers with the most negotiating power are extracting a premium from the market.
Base steer prices range from €3.75/kg at the lower end of the market to €3.85/kg at the top, with the majority selling in a base of €3.80/kg.
Heifers are trading in the main at €3.90/kg, with best deals completed 5c/kg higher.
Bulls
Bulls remain a vital part of weekly throughout.
There is also a wide differential in price, with U grades trading from €3.85/kg to €3.95/kg. Many sellers are securing €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for good R grades, while O grades range from €3.65/kg to €3.75/kg.
Allowances on carcase weights continue to differ from 430kg to 500kg, with bargaining power having the potential in cases to raise limits.
Bulls under 16 months are trading from €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with most plants trying to impose an upper carcase weight of 400kg to 420kg.
Tight cow supplies
Cows remain in tight supply, reflected in agent activity in purchasing direct off-farm and more so in mart sales.
P+3 grading cows are selling from €2.90/kg to a top of €3.10/kg where traded in mixed batches. O grades are selling from €3.00/lg to €3.25/kg, rising to €3.40/kg to €3.45/kg for top-quality R grades. Numbers on offer have a big impact on potential prices secured.
Despite a larger kill, factory appetite remains solid.
Base quotes continue to range from a U-3 base of £3.42/kg to £3.46/kg (equivalent of €4.19/kg to €4.24/kg at 86p to the euro and 5.4% VAT) with producers trading at the top end of the market securing a base of £3.50/kg to £3.52/kg for steers and heifers.
R grade cows continue to trade from £2.40/kg to £2.55/kg, with R grades 10p/kg higher.
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