Factories are actively trying to apply pressure to the beef trade this week, with some dropping quotes by 10c/kg.

More cattle availability, a shorter week and reducing grass supplies in the south are being given as some of the reasons for pressure on trade.

Base quotes for bullocks are working off €6.40/kg, while base quotes for heifers are working off €6.50/kg.

There are some factories trying to quote less but are getting very little, if any, cattle at the lower quotes.

The cow trade has also taken a hit, with P+3 cows working off base quotes of €5.80-€5.90/kg.

O grading cows are working off €5.90-€6/kg, while R grading cows are being quoted anywhere from €6.10-€6.20/kg.

Bull trade

The bull trade hasn’t escaped the cuts, with prices generally trending 10 cent/kg behind where they were this time last week.

U grading bulls are working off a price of €6.50kg, while R grading bulls are being bought at €6.40/kg this week.

Under-16 months bulls are working off base prices of between €6.20-€6.30/kg, but numbers of these younger bulls are in short supply at the moment.

Prices across the water in Britain have generally been trading upwards in recent weeks, with R4L bullocks working off base prices of between 610-615p/kg (€7.09-€7.15/kg).