Cattle numbers have tightened. A true sign of this on the ground is that prices are being agreed in farmers’ yards and being slaughtered within days. In some cases, cattle are even going for slaughter the following day.

There is more life in the mart trade, with fat stock now selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg liveweight, the equivalent of €3.80/kg deadweight. There are also reports of agents for Northern Ireland active again in marts in the west.

Farmers with in-spec steers are being quoted a base of €3.70/kg. Farmers with stock that tick all the boxes have received from €3.75/kg up to €3.80/kg. Where steers and heifers are being sold together, a base of €3.85/kg has been paid.

However, farmers with plainer stock are being forced to take quoted prices. As numbers are tightening, it has also been reported that overage steers are not being cut the 10c that has become common practice in recent months. Farmers now have more power to negotiate.

The general base quote for heifers ranges from €3.70 to €3.75/kg. However, with supplies tight, there are reports of farmers with choice lots securing €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg. These prices exclude the 12c/kg QPS bonus and are for quality assured (QA) cattle under 30 months of age.

According to national kill data, a steady supply of steers is coming on the market. It shows last week’s figure at 10,119, which is 1,816 ahead of last year. Heifer numbers are closer to last year’s figures with a kill of 7,580 last week, 505 above last weeks kill.

Bulls: The price paid for young bulls on the grid is ranging from €3.60/kg to €3.65, with some quotes up to €3.70. This excludes the 12c/kg QPS bonus, but note that some plants are imposing a minimum fat cover of 3 over the normal 2+.

General prices for overage R grade bulls are ranging from €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg, with U grade bulls selling from €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg. Out-of-spec bulls are this week more easily sold.

Specialised finishers and those with contracts are securing an additional 5c to 10c/kg. Some factories are reportedly penalising less for out-of-spec stock. Lower-quality Friesian bulls are trading from €3.00 to €3.20/kg.

There are also reports of factories moving to secure 20- to 22-month bulls for next November and December. A weight restriction of 440kg is being imposed.

The past four weeks kill data shows a gradual decline in the number of young bulls being presented for slaughter. There has been a drop of 1,000 head between last week and four weeks ago.

Though still over 600 head higher than the same week last year, the supply of bulls looks like it is tightening up. There are also reports of growing numbers of out-of-spec stock going north.

Cow trade: Factories are this week focusing their efforts on the cow trade. It is reported that agents are again being told not to leave cows behind them as factories become anxious to secure stock.

O grade animals are making from €3.00/kg up to €3.25/kg. P grade cows are bringing in the region of €3.00/kg. Plainer cows have not experienced the same lift as the higher-quality beef cows. R grade cows are trading from €3.20/kg to €3.40/kg. Good U grade cows are making up to €3.55/kg.

Northern Ireland: There has been a small increase in base quotes for steers this week, with most factories quoting €3.98/kg (314p/kg) for steers and €4.00/kg (316p/kg) for heifers.

Numbers have tightened significantly in NI. Factories are under less pressure to secure cattle ahead of the upcoming bank holiday.

Well-fleshed O+ and R grading cows are trading for €3.16/kg (250p/kg) and €3.22/kg (255p/kg).

Britain: While prices have remained stable, industry sources are forecasting an upward trend over the coming weeks. With the euro having eased to 79p, the English price now equates to an equivalent base of €4.10/kg.