The beef trade is unchanged with steady throughput continuing to satisfy demand.

The steer and heifer base is unchanged with the majority of steers moving at a base of €3.75/kg, with heifers trading 10c/kg higher at a base of €3.85/kg.

There are small numbers trading for 5c/kg higher but this continues to be restricted to those trading at the top of the market or for choice lots.

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The cow trade remains sluggish with variable demand between agents.

Bull prices are unchanged with a significant differential persisting based on numbers on hand and the producer-processor relationship

Prices have eased by an average of 5c/kg over the last week with poor-quality cows coming direct from the parlour coming on stream in slightly higher numbers.

P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.90/kg all the way to €3.05/kg at the higher-end of the market or where smaller numbers are traded with a consignment of better-quality cows.

Fleshed O-grading medium-carcase weight cows are trading from €3.10-€3.15/kg on average with heavier suckler-bred cows in cases selling to €3.20-€3.25/kg.

A high percentage of R grades range from €3.35-€3.40/kg while the number of U-grading cows processed in recent weeks has ranged from just 150 to 200 cows with top prices rising to €3.55/kg and higher for young fleshed cows and cow-heifers plants specialising in that trade.

Bull prices are unchanged with a significant differential persisting based on numbers on hand and the producer-processor relationship.

A high percentage of R-grading bulls are trading within a range price of €3.75-€3.80/kg with U grades from €3.85-€3.95/kg but up to 5c/kg higher has been paid to specialist finishers.

Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling in the main on a base of €3.75/kg with €3.80/kg secured by a small number of finishers.

Northern trade

Base U-3 steer and heifers quotes in the North remain at £3.50-£3.54/kg or the equivalent of €4.01-€4.05/kg at Monday evening’s exchange rate of 87.5p to the euro.

This is an easing on last Wednesday’s rate of 88.7p with Brexit uncertainty continuing to lead to currency fluctuation.

When VAT is included at 5.4% it equates to €4.23-€4.27/kg. Regular sellers are securing 2p-4p/kg higher with top returns rising to £3.60/kg (€4.34/kg incl VAT), excluding breed bonuses which range anywhere from 15p-30p/kg.