There are some signs of more life or appetite in the trade for steers and heifers, but bulls remain a challenging trade.
The general run of prices for R and U grade bulls ranges from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg for Rs and €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for Us, while O grading bulls are selling in the main from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg.
There are some plants imposing price reductions on bulls they deem out of spec, with carcase weight and fat cover the two main factors.
Slow to accept bulls
A number of plants are slow to accept bulls with a carcase weight of 430kg to 450kg upwards.
For others, it depends on the producer-processor relationship and the number of bulls falling out of spec and the size of the group.
Other plants are removing bulls less than 16 months from payment on the grid once the carcase weight exceeds 400kg to 420kg and are paying the flat prices listed above.
Slaughter period
The period from booking to slaughter also remains anywhere from one to three weeks plus, which is putting pressure on some producers as the 24-month age limit approaches.
Producers are advised to make contact with factories well in advance of the forecast slaughter date to see if a planned timeline can be put in place.
Getting back to steers and heifers, the slight upturn in demand seems to be helped by positive sales over the Christmas period.
While figures are not yet available, reports would suggest retail promotions worked well for some in boosting sales and moving higher volumes.
Prices remain unchanged, with steers trading on a base of €3.75/kg and heifers at €3.85/kg.
Cows
There is also no change in the cow trade. P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.65/kg to €2.75/kg, with a high percentage of O grading cows from €2.80/kg to €2.85/kg.
Prices at the top of the market are 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher, while R grading cows range from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg, with top prices again rising 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher in cow-specialist plants for heavy-carcase cows.
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In pictures: top of €2.92/kg at Roscrea female fatstock show and sale
Beef top tips: getting grazing up and running
There are some signs of more life or appetite in the trade for steers and heifers, but bulls remain a challenging trade.
The general run of prices for R and U grade bulls ranges from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg for Rs and €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for Us, while O grading bulls are selling in the main from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg.
There are some plants imposing price reductions on bulls they deem out of spec, with carcase weight and fat cover the two main factors.
Slow to accept bulls
A number of plants are slow to accept bulls with a carcase weight of 430kg to 450kg upwards.
For others, it depends on the producer-processor relationship and the number of bulls falling out of spec and the size of the group.
Other plants are removing bulls less than 16 months from payment on the grid once the carcase weight exceeds 400kg to 420kg and are paying the flat prices listed above.
Slaughter period
The period from booking to slaughter also remains anywhere from one to three weeks plus, which is putting pressure on some producers as the 24-month age limit approaches.
Producers are advised to make contact with factories well in advance of the forecast slaughter date to see if a planned timeline can be put in place.
Getting back to steers and heifers, the slight upturn in demand seems to be helped by positive sales over the Christmas period.
While figures are not yet available, reports would suggest retail promotions worked well for some in boosting sales and moving higher volumes.
Prices remain unchanged, with steers trading on a base of €3.75/kg and heifers at €3.85/kg.
Cows
There is also no change in the cow trade. P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.65/kg to €2.75/kg, with a high percentage of O grading cows from €2.80/kg to €2.85/kg.
Prices at the top of the market are 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher, while R grading cows range from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg, with top prices again rising 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher in cow-specialist plants for heavy-carcase cows.
Read more
In pictures: top of €2.92/kg at Roscrea female fatstock show and sale
Beef top tips: getting grazing up and running
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