The beef trade has steadied, after price pressure in recent weeks.
Some plants continue to try to talk the trade down, but, at the same time, are keen not to miss out on any deals.
Base prices are unchanged, with steers trading in the main on a base of €3.90/kg, with heifers 10c/kg higher on a base of €4.00/kg.
There are few reports of regular sellers securing 5c/kg higher, but the frequency of such deals is small.
Cow trade
There appears to be more life entering the cow trade, with factory agents and dealers increasing purchasing activity over the weekend, both in direct farm sales and in mart sales.
This is widening the differential paid, with sellers with smaller numbers on hand still being quoted the same price.
P+3 grading cows are reported as selling in the main from €3.05/kg to €3.15/kg, but up to €3.20/kg has been paid.
Likewise, O grading cows range, on average, from €3.15/kg to €3.20/kg for plainer-quality Friesian cows, with fleshed O=/+ cows trading, in cases, for 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.
R grades range from €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg, with U grades 10c/kg higher at the top of the market.
Bull trade
The bull trade is steady, with numbers on offer having the greatest influence on prices paid.
O grading bulls are selling anywhere from €3.70/kg to €3.80/kg, a good price relative to R grades at €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.
U grades are trading on average at €4.00/kg, with regular sellers securing 5c/kg higher.
Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are generally moving at a base of €3.90/kg.
Northern trade
The northern trade continues to benefit from firm demand, with regular sellers negotiating above a U-3 base of £3.50/kg to £3.54/kg and pushing prices to £3.60/kg and even higher for choice heifers.
Monday evening’s sterling exchange rate weakened to 90.6p, putting the equivalent base price at €3.86/kg to €3.91/kg or €4.07/kg to €4.12/kg including VAT at 5.4%.