Factories are moving to manage supply ahead of tighter numbers coming down the track in the next few weeks and months.

Last week’s kill saw a big drop in numbers and a number of processors have dropped back to half-day killings to manage supply and kick out numbers.

Factories are also getting more anxious for stock, but are still reluctant to increase quotes to get them.

In-spec heifers are top of the quotes this week with most factories working off a €3.65/kg base for heifers.

Bullocks are being quoted 5c/kg less at €3.60/kg, but deals are being done at €3.65/kg where bullocks and heifers are involved.

There is still good appetite in the trade for Hereford and Angus stock to fill retail orders and bonuses of between 10c and 20c/kg are being paid on top of the in-spec bonus of 20c/kg.

Bulls are a similar trade this week, with under-16-month bulls trading off €3.55/kg to €3.60/kg on the grid.

Older R grading bulls are at €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg, with U grades coming in on average 10c/kg higher at €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg.

Appetite for lesser-grading bulls is poor, with €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg being quoted by some processors.

There’s a little more appetite for cows in the market, with P+3 cows trading at €2.95/kg to €3.05/kg.

O grading cows are generally moving at €3.05/kg to €3.10/kg, with good R and U grading cows trading for as high as €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg in some plants, depending on numbers and quality.

Last week’s kill dropped 1,494 head, down to 34,832 from 36,326 head the week before.

There was almost 1,000 fewer heifers killed last week. There was also 348 fewer cows killed, with the bull and bullock kill remaining steady.

Numbers being exported across the border for direct slaughter were up again last week after dipping to 382 cattle the week before.

Last week, 280 cows or heifers were exported for direct slaughter, along with 259 bulls or bullocks.

Nomad cattle

Last week, the Northern Ireland Livestock and Meat Commission issued a reminder to Northern Ireland farmers importing live cattle for further feeding from the Republic of Ireland to beware of the nomad cattle issue and to make sure that farmers have talked to processors about processing these cattle before any purchases are made.

During August 2020, there were 3,194 cattle exported from ROI for further breeding and production on NI farms, which takes total cattle exports for further feeding from ROI from 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2020 to 26,055 head, double the 2019 figure for the same period.

Northern customers have made a noticeable difference in marts, with agents paying top money for suitably fleshed good-quality cows.

NI comment

The beef trade in Northern Ireland has stabilised after recent moves to apply downward price pressure. Base quotes for U-3 grading animals are holding on 356p to 358p/kg (€4.12 to €4.14/kg inc VAT).

In-spec steers and heifers are moving from a base of 360p to 362p/kg (€4.17 to €4.19/kg) where smaller numbers are offered, rising to 366p to 368p/kg (€4.24 to €4.26/kg) for more regular sellers.

Cows are also a steady trade, with quotes holding at 280p/kg (€3.24/kg) with up to 300p/kg (€3.47/kg) being paid on good beef-bred animals.

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