The beef trade is unchanged, with throughput remaining above normal for the time of year.

Factories remain keen for steers and heifers, but with a good supply of bulls and cows there is no pressure to alter price.

As such, steers continue to trade on a base of €3.75/kg, with heifers 10c/kg higher at a base of €3.85/kg.

The heifer kill also remains above normal and is being helped by an increase in beef-sired heifers from the dairy herd coming fit for slaughter faster.

Cow trade

The cow trade is firm, with factory quotes continuing at an average range of €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg for P+3 grades, while a high percentage of O grades are trading from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg, with suckler-bred cows in cases commanding a better price for heavier carcase cows.

R grades are moving anywhere from €3.00/kg in plants with little interest in cows to €3.20/kg in plants more active in the cow trade.

The same can be said for U grading cows, with prices ranging from €3.20/kg to €3.40/kg at the top of the market.

Mart managers also report a significant spike in cow entries in the last week to 10 days, with this outlet being a good alternative.

Bulls

Bulls continue to meet a varied trade, although some plants that had reduced purchasing activity are handling higher numbers this week.

Prices remain very variable, particularly when penalties on weight, age and fat score (2-/2=) are taken into account, which range in general from 10c/kg to 15c/kg on each element.

Average prices for U grading bulls before deductions start at €3.60/kg to €3.75/kg, with R grades 10c/kg lower.

Friesian O grading bulls with sufficient fat cover range from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg.

Northern trade

The northern trade is solid, with good bite in the trade and potential for sellers with higher numbers to dig in on price.

Base U-3 quotes range in general from €3.42/kg to €3.46/kg, but many sellers are securing 4p/kg to 6p/kg higher, while top prices are reported into the mid-£3.50s.

The sterling to euro exchange rate stood at 87.6p to the euro on Monday evening, putting top U-3 returns of £3.50/kg at the equivalent of €4.00/kg and €4.21/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

The strengthening in the northern trade is raising more scope for northern buyers to purchase slaughter-fit stock in southern marts, with a noticeable increase in activity in fatstock and special sales.

Numbers have increased, but remain relatively small at 300 to 400 head compared with a few years ago, when it was normal for double that figure to be heading north on a weekly basis.