Last week’s increased processing activity was reflected in a beef kill of 38,045 head. The main driver was steer thoughput rising to 17,585 head, an increase of 3,000 to 4,000 head for the corresponding week in previous years.

Heifer throughput of 10,173 head was also above normal, while a bull kill of just shy of 3,000 head was largely in line with average levels.

Tighter cow supplies are reflected in a kill of just 6,558 head, a reduction of about 1,000 to 1,500 from levels before the protest.

Getting back to this week’s kill, some agents are reporting supplies in the east of the country being slightly tighter. This is being balanced by some farmers in areas receiving the worst of the rainfall starting to move cattle due to ground conditions, while the 30-month age limit is also coming more into focus.

Prices paid are unchanged, with steers trading from a base of €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg. Plants are starting to try to condition some producers to a price pull of 5c/kg for steers.

The majority of heifers are trading on a base of €3.55/kg, with small numbers trading at the top of the market moving on a base of €3.60/kg.

Bull prices are also unchanged, with a 5c/kg to 10c/kg differential persisting between producers with very little negotiating power and specialist finishers.

Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling on average from €3.40/kg to €3.45/kg. Throughput of these animals is getting tighter every week.

Bulls aged over 16 months but less than 24 months continue to average €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg for R grading bulls, while U grades range from €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg.

O grading bulls range anywhere in price from €3.20/kg to €3.35/kg, with overage Friesians in cases selling back to €3.00/kg or even lower for poor-quality types.

Tighter numbers are keeping a firm floor under the cow trade. Again, big differences persist between plants depending on their activity in the trade.

P+3 grading cows range in price from €2.75/kg to €2.90/kg, with O grades from €2.85/kg to €2.95/kg on average.

R grading cows are trading in the main from €3.00/kg to €3.05/kg, but heavy top-quality and young cows are selling to €3.10/kg to €3.15/kg.

Sellers located in areas where factory demand is lower should take note that agents remain very active in mart sales and are using this avenue to try to compensate for falling numbers.

Northern trade

A deterioration in ground conditions and the 30-month age limit are also said to be bringing more cattle on to the market in the North.

Prices have eased by 2p/kg, with U-3 base quotes averaging £3.22/kg to £3.26/kg.

Sterling strengthened to 91.5p to the euro on Wednesday afternoon, with this price range equating to €3.52/kg to €3.56/kg and €3.72/kg to €3.76/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

Regular sellers are still having some success in pushing returns for steers to £3.30/kg (€3.80/kg), while top returns for heifers are 2p/kg to 4p/kg higher.

Pressure is also being felt on cows, with quotes for good R and U grading cows averaging £2.60/kg (€2.99/kg), with O grading cows 10p/kg to 15p/kg lower, depending on quality.

There is no real change in the British trade, with R4L steers and heifers averaging £3.37/kg (€3.88/kg).

Steers strengthened marginally by 0.4p/kg, while heifers eased by 1p/kg on the back of higher supplies coming on stream.

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