Factories have taken the knife to beef quotes again this week, slashing a further 10c/kg off base prices.

The move means that beef quotes are back 30c to 40c/kg in the last three weeks, wiping close to €150/head off animals with a carcase weight of 350kg.

Base quotes for bullocks this week are starting at €7.20/kg, with heifers working off a base quote off €7.30/kg.

Some factory agents are indicating a further move downwards next week, with €7/kg mentioned in some plants.

The weekend's weather hasn’t helped the finishers' case, with some farmers getting a little uneasy with cattle doing damage around feeding troughs, especially in the northwest of the country.

Unusual move

It’s an unusual move for factories to cut beef quotes in Ploughing week and agents are likely to take some heat in Screggan over the next few days.

There is a thought that factories were under increased pressure from some of their large feeders to do something to correct the store price as they look to restock over the next few months.

The slide in quotes hasn’t hit the mart trade to a big extent, although poorer-quality types are back in the last seven to 10 days.

Cows

The cow trade is also back, with some factories down another 10c to 20c/kg for cows for Monday morning’s quotes.

R grading cows are generally trading at €7.00/kg to €7.10/kg, while O grading cows are coming in around €6.80/kg to €6.90/kg, depending on weight and flesh cover.

P grading cows are back to €6.40/kg in some locations, but €6.50/kg is still available, especially where numbers are involved.

Bulls

Up to €7.50/kg is still available at the top end for U grading bulls where numbers are involved, working back to €7.20/kg to €7.30/kg for O grades.