The beef trade is experiencing greater bite as the week progresses. Factories are finding it harder to source similar numbers and are willing to pay more to entice cattle forward.

Steer and heifer base prices are increasing by an average of 3c/kg to 5c/kg, with steers trading on average on a base of €4.15/kg, while sellers trading at the top of the market are negotiating a base of €4.20/kg. Meanwhile, heifers are trading on a base of €4.20/kg to €4.30/kg.

IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said: “It is clear that supplies of slaughter-fit stock are tightening fast and factories are having to move on to a higher base to stay in contention, with competition levels rising significantly between competing plants.”

Last week’s kill was recorded at 29,441hd, a reduction of 1,782hd on the previous week. The total kill, at 629,186hd, is running 21,109hd above last year’s levels.

See Beef Trends page 66