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The beef trade is well and truly stuck in gear, with cows the only bright aspect of an otherwise stagnant trade.
Demand for cows has been strong in recent weeks and is being helped by numbers appearing to tighten after a flush came on stream when factories reopened in the new year.
Prices are largely unchanged and continue to differ significantly between and even within plants, depending on the number on offer and negotiating power.
P+3 grading cows average €2.85/kg to €2.95/kg, but 5c/kg higher has been paid to sellers handling large numbers.
Likewise, O grades range in general from €2.95/kg to €3.00/kg, but there is a 5c/kg swing either side of this range.
R grading cows are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.20/kg in the main, while U grading cows trade from €3.20/kg to €3.30/kg and as high as €3.40/kg for excellent-quality lots in plants specialising in the cow trade.
The mart trade remains a great alternative for young and good-quality slaughter-fit cows.
Demand for beef cattle has been tempered in cases by cattle coming on stream a bit quicker as some producers look to deal with weather challenges and clear shed space.
Quotes unchanged
Base quotes are unchanged, with a high percentage of steers trading at €3.65/kg, while heifers are trading at a mixed base of €3.65/kg to €3.70/kg.
Dawn Meats has reduced the minimum number of days cattle must spend on the final Bord Bia quality assured (QA) farm to be eligible for the quality payment scheme (QPS) inspec bonus from 60 days to 30 days.
This comes into effect from 17 February and offers more options to farmers wishing to sell or purchase forward stores.
Cattle must still spend the final 70 consecutive days on farms which are QA.
The bull trade is static, with U grading bulls typically moving from €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg, with R grades 10c/kg lower at a range of €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg.
O grading bulls range on average from €3.25/kg to €3.35/kg, but up to €3.40/kg has been paid for better-quality beef-bred bulls.
Bulls less than 16 months of age and trading on the grid are also meeting a 10c/kg to 15c/kg variation in the base plant offered.
The starting point in plants with little interest in purchasing on the grid is a base of €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg, but the general base secured by producers is €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg.
Northern trade
The beef trade in northern plants is steady, with starting quotes in most plants commencing at a U-3 base of £3.30/kg to £3.34/kg. This is the equivalent of €3.91/kg to €3.95/kg and €4.06/kg to €4.17/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Top returns, including bonus payments, are averaging over £3.40/kg (€4.24/kg incl VAT), with heifers rising 2p/kg to 4p/kg higher.
Northern agents remain active in southern sales for quality cows and forward stores. The number of cattle crossing the border north for direct slaughter was recorded at 314 head last week. Cow prices in the north start at £2.50/kg to £2.60/kg for O grading Friesians and rise to a top of £2.65/kg to £2.75/kg (€3.30/kg to €3.43/kg incl VAT) for top-quality continental cows.
The latest AHDB report shows British prices marginally increasing by 1p/kg. R4L steers and heifers are trading in the region of £3.44/kg (€4.27/kg incl VAT). Prices in continental EU markets are sluggish with Irish prices closing the gap, as reported on page 23.
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