The beef kill remains in a strong position with over 800 extra mature cattle processed last week.
Total throughput increased by 511 head to 33,275, while the calf kill reduced by 343 head to 438, a fall of over 800 head in just two weeks.
Factories are happy to handle the higher numbers, with some agents commenting that plants are keen to maximise throughput with a view that numbers will tighten in the weeks ahead.
There is a slight strengthening in prices paid to producers with greater negotiating power, with an increase in the percentage of steers moving at a base of €4.00/kg and more sellers trading at the top of the market securing a base of €4.05/kg.
There are still significant numbers moving at a base of €3.95/kg, with plants holding firm in deals involving smaller numbers.
A similar trend is evident for heifers, with the general base price ranging from €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg and top prices rising to €4.15/kg.
Flat-priced deals for O grading Friesian steers range, in general, from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg, with some plants keen to tie into deals comprising a mix of Friesian and Angus stock.
Higher cow kill
Cows are the main contributor to the increased kill, with throughput rising from 6,885 head to 7,414. The differential in prices paid to producers with varying negotiating power is even more evident in cows than for steers and heifers.
P+ 3 grading cows are trading from €3.30/kg at the bottom of the market to €3.40/kg, while O grading cows are trading on average from €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg, with higher paid, as demonstrated in the Department of Agriculture collated price tables.
R grades are trading from €3.55/kg to €3.65/kg, but, again, up to 10c/kg higher has been paid for mixed lots of heavy R and U grading cows.
Bull beef producers continue to face challenges in pushing prices for U grading bulls above €4.10/kg.
Plants are offering a range of deals on mixed consignments of bulls and allowances on weight and transport rather than increase prices.
R grading bulls are trading on their own from €4.00/kg to €4.05/kg, but €4.10/kg has been paid for good-quality R and U grading bulls.
The trade for Friesian bulls is also firm, with prices for fleshed O=/+ grading lots ranging from €3.80/kg to €3.90/kg.
Stronger British prices
British prices recorded an increase of 2p/kg to 3p/kg over the last week.
AHDB price analysis shows R4L steers and heifers trading on average for £3.71/kg, the equivalent of €4.24/kg at 87.5p to the euro and €4.47/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Cow prices are also creeping up, with O grades trading from £3.15/kg to £3.32/kg (€3.79/kg to €4.00/kg including VAT), while bull prices are firming on the back of tightening supplies, with R grades trading from £3.50/kg to £3.56/kg (€4.22/kg to €4.29/kg).
Northern prices have cooled at a steady level. Base U-3 quotes for steers and heifers range from £3.56.kg to £3.58/kg (€4.28/kg to €4.31/kg VAT-inclusive).
Top prices are rising to the low-£3.60s, with a shorter week and steady throughput taking pressure off factories to pay higher.
It is likely that any backlog will be worked through quickly.
Cow prices are steady, with O grading cows selling from £2.70/kg to £2.90/kg (€3.25/kg to €3.49/kg incl VAT), while R and U grading suckler cows are selling to £3.10/kg (€3.73/kg).
Read more
Shorter kill week holding cattle trade steady
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
The beef kill remains in a strong position with over 800 extra mature cattle processed last week.
Total throughput increased by 511 head to 33,275, while the calf kill reduced by 343 head to 438, a fall of over 800 head in just two weeks.
Factories are happy to handle the higher numbers, with some agents commenting that plants are keen to maximise throughput with a view that numbers will tighten in the weeks ahead.
There is a slight strengthening in prices paid to producers with greater negotiating power, with an increase in the percentage of steers moving at a base of €4.00/kg and more sellers trading at the top of the market securing a base of €4.05/kg.
There are still significant numbers moving at a base of €3.95/kg, with plants holding firm in deals involving smaller numbers.
A similar trend is evident for heifers, with the general base price ranging from €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg and top prices rising to €4.15/kg.
Flat-priced deals for O grading Friesian steers range, in general, from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg, with some plants keen to tie into deals comprising a mix of Friesian and Angus stock.
Higher cow kill
Cows are the main contributor to the increased kill, with throughput rising from 6,885 head to 7,414. The differential in prices paid to producers with varying negotiating power is even more evident in cows than for steers and heifers.
P+ 3 grading cows are trading from €3.30/kg at the bottom of the market to €3.40/kg, while O grading cows are trading on average from €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg, with higher paid, as demonstrated in the Department of Agriculture collated price tables.
R grades are trading from €3.55/kg to €3.65/kg, but, again, up to 10c/kg higher has been paid for mixed lots of heavy R and U grading cows.
Bull beef producers continue to face challenges in pushing prices for U grading bulls above €4.10/kg.
Plants are offering a range of deals on mixed consignments of bulls and allowances on weight and transport rather than increase prices.
R grading bulls are trading on their own from €4.00/kg to €4.05/kg, but €4.10/kg has been paid for good-quality R and U grading bulls.
The trade for Friesian bulls is also firm, with prices for fleshed O=/+ grading lots ranging from €3.80/kg to €3.90/kg.
Stronger British prices
British prices recorded an increase of 2p/kg to 3p/kg over the last week.
AHDB price analysis shows R4L steers and heifers trading on average for £3.71/kg, the equivalent of €4.24/kg at 87.5p to the euro and €4.47/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Cow prices are also creeping up, with O grades trading from £3.15/kg to £3.32/kg (€3.79/kg to €4.00/kg including VAT), while bull prices are firming on the back of tightening supplies, with R grades trading from £3.50/kg to £3.56/kg (€4.22/kg to €4.29/kg).
Northern prices have cooled at a steady level. Base U-3 quotes for steers and heifers range from £3.56.kg to £3.58/kg (€4.28/kg to €4.31/kg VAT-inclusive).
Top prices are rising to the low-£3.60s, with a shorter week and steady throughput taking pressure off factories to pay higher.
It is likely that any backlog will be worked through quickly.
Cow prices are steady, with O grading cows selling from £2.70/kg to £2.90/kg (€3.25/kg to €3.49/kg incl VAT), while R and U grading suckler cows are selling to £3.10/kg (€3.73/kg).
Read more
Shorter kill week holding cattle trade steady
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
SHARING OPTIONS