There is no change in the beef trade over the last week. Demand remains solid, with factories active for stock, but buyers remain determined in their stance of keeping a lid on prices. Steers are selling at a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with the 5c/kg difference influenced by negotiating power and numbers on offer.
Sellers competing at the higher end of the market are finding it difficult to exceed this range, with factories favouring doing deals on weight or transport to secure sales.
A high percentage of heifers are selling at a base of €3.90/kg, with buyers having to work a little harder to secure the same numbers with the heifer kill lower than steers.
Choice lots have sold 5c/kg higher and, likewise, there are small numbers of heifers falling outside the optimum factory spec being offered a base of €3.85/kg.
The continued strong purchasing activity from agents increased last week’s kill by close to 1,000 head at 33,158.
The main movers were 563 extra steers processed (10,869) and 386 extra cows (6,931).
The mart outlet continues to be a successful sourcing route for agents with competition for feeding and forward cows adding an extra bite into the trade.
P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.95/kg to €3.20/kg in the main, with O grades rising to €3.20/kg and 5c/kg higher to regular sellers. R grades are selling in the main from €3.25/kg to €3.35/kg with heavy, well-fleshed cows selling to €3.40/kg. U grades are selling from €3.35/kg in plants not active in the cow trade to a top of €3.50/kg. Sellers should continue to note price penalties for cows lacking significant flesh and weigh up if the mart is a better sales outlet.
Price variation
Selling power continues to be the main determinant of bull prices negotiated. Prices can be summarised as €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg for O grades, €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for R grades and €3.90/kg for U grades.
Specialist finishers are, in cases, achieving a flat price of €3.90/kg for mixed batches comprising mainly U grades with a small number of top quality R grades mixed in, while others are securing 5c/kg extra for top-quality U grades. Bulls less than 16 months selling on the grid are unchanged on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg.
Northern trade
Last week’s northern cattle kill eased 217 head to 9,390. The prime cattle kill fell 307 to 7,059 head, with the cow kill compensating somewhat by rising 104 to 2,097. Factory agents continue to try to insert downward pressure on prices, but there is no change in the trade in recent days.
Base U-3 quotes remain at £3.42/kg to £3.46/kg, which is the equivalent of €4.24/kg to €4.29/kg at yesterday’s exchange of 85p to the euro and 5.4% VAT. Regular sellers continue to secure prices ranging from £3.48/kg to £3.52/kg.
The cow trade is unchanged, with O grades selling from £2.40/kg to £2.55/kg (€2.98/kg to €3.16/kg) and R grades rising to £3.65/kg (€3.29/kg).
The British supply-demand balance has fallen in favour of processors, according to the AHDB.
This has led to downward pressure on price, with average prices falling 1p/kg to 2p/kg, with R4L steers and heifers reducing to £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg (€4.46/kg to €4.48/kg).
Cows have strengthened on the back of increased demand for manufacturing beef, with O grades selling from £2.40/kg to £2.45/kg (€2.98/kg to €3.03/kg).
Download the Irish Farmers Journal news app today and get the latest prices for all grades and all factories through the built-in Livestock Tool.
There is no change in the beef trade over the last week. Demand remains solid, with factories active for stock, but buyers remain determined in their stance of keeping a lid on prices. Steers are selling at a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with the 5c/kg difference influenced by negotiating power and numbers on offer.
Sellers competing at the higher end of the market are finding it difficult to exceed this range, with factories favouring doing deals on weight or transport to secure sales.
A high percentage of heifers are selling at a base of €3.90/kg, with buyers having to work a little harder to secure the same numbers with the heifer kill lower than steers.
Choice lots have sold 5c/kg higher and, likewise, there are small numbers of heifers falling outside the optimum factory spec being offered a base of €3.85/kg.
The continued strong purchasing activity from agents increased last week’s kill by close to 1,000 head at 33,158.
The main movers were 563 extra steers processed (10,869) and 386 extra cows (6,931).
The mart outlet continues to be a successful sourcing route for agents with competition for feeding and forward cows adding an extra bite into the trade.
P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.95/kg to €3.20/kg in the main, with O grades rising to €3.20/kg and 5c/kg higher to regular sellers. R grades are selling in the main from €3.25/kg to €3.35/kg with heavy, well-fleshed cows selling to €3.40/kg. U grades are selling from €3.35/kg in plants not active in the cow trade to a top of €3.50/kg. Sellers should continue to note price penalties for cows lacking significant flesh and weigh up if the mart is a better sales outlet.
Price variation
Selling power continues to be the main determinant of bull prices negotiated. Prices can be summarised as €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg for O grades, €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for R grades and €3.90/kg for U grades.
Specialist finishers are, in cases, achieving a flat price of €3.90/kg for mixed batches comprising mainly U grades with a small number of top quality R grades mixed in, while others are securing 5c/kg extra for top-quality U grades. Bulls less than 16 months selling on the grid are unchanged on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg.
Northern trade
Last week’s northern cattle kill eased 217 head to 9,390. The prime cattle kill fell 307 to 7,059 head, with the cow kill compensating somewhat by rising 104 to 2,097. Factory agents continue to try to insert downward pressure on prices, but there is no change in the trade in recent days.
Base U-3 quotes remain at £3.42/kg to £3.46/kg, which is the equivalent of €4.24/kg to €4.29/kg at yesterday’s exchange of 85p to the euro and 5.4% VAT. Regular sellers continue to secure prices ranging from £3.48/kg to £3.52/kg.
The cow trade is unchanged, with O grades selling from £2.40/kg to £2.55/kg (€2.98/kg to €3.16/kg) and R grades rising to £3.65/kg (€3.29/kg).
The British supply-demand balance has fallen in favour of processors, according to the AHDB.
This has led to downward pressure on price, with average prices falling 1p/kg to 2p/kg, with R4L steers and heifers reducing to £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg (€4.46/kg to €4.48/kg).
Cows have strengthened on the back of increased demand for manufacturing beef, with O grades selling from £2.40/kg to £2.45/kg (€2.98/kg to €3.03/kg).
Download the Irish Farmers Journal news app today and get the latest prices for all grades and all factories through the built-in Livestock Tool.
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