Beef factories continue to struggle to source finished animals as the national kill dropped for the third week in a row. The weekly kill is now running 3,000 head behind three weeks ago.

Demand is now outstripping supply, with factories having to increase quotes by 20c/kg to a €3.80/kg base for heifers and €3.75/kg for steers to get sufficient numbers to cater for Christmas demand.

Factories north and south are now shipping product to the UK in a bid to avoid potential tariffs after 1 January.

Meanwhile, UK retailers are currently witnessing unprecedented demand for all cuts of beef, but especially steak and roast cuts.

An R=3= steer weighing 380kg is worth €76/head more this week compared to three weeks ago.

Farmers also received a cash injection this week as €349m of balancing payments under the Basic Payment Scheme landed in bank accounts on Tuesday.

Some €30m in the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Suckler (BEEP-S) is also expected this week, followed by Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) balancing payments and Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) money due next week.