The higher weekly kill of 34,214 head, up 1,056 on the previous week, is taking some of the pressure off factories to meet their required throughput.
Demand remains firm, but with close to 3,000 extra cattle handled in the last two weeks, it has, in cases, made it easier for agents to fill orders.
Prices by and large remain unchanged, although some plants are trying to get a higher percentage of steers bought at a base of €3.75/kg rather than €3.80/kg.
The success of this is variable, with many independent plants with lower access to contracted cattle purchasing the majority of steers at a €3.80/kg base.
There are only very small numbers moving at the top end of the market for a base of €3.85/kg.
The majority of heifers are trading on a base of €3.90/kg, with attempts to offer lower being knocked back by continued firm demand and plenty of competition for good-quality types.
At the top end of the market, there are still a small number of specialist producers securing a base of €3.95/kg.
More cows and bulls
The lift in last week’s kill is being driven by cow throughput rising 696 to 7,627 head. Demand remains strong, which continues to be reflected in strong agent activity in marts.
P+3 grading cows are trading in the main from €3.00/kg to €3.05/kg, but prices up to 10c/kg higher have been paid to sellers handling large numbers.
Likewise, fleshed O grading cows are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.15/kg, but, again, regular sellers have secured up to €3.25/kg, while R grades are selling from €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg at the top of the market in plants most active for cows.
U grades are selling from €3.40/kg to €3.45/kg, with a very brisk mart trade for young, well conformed fleshed cows.
The bull kill has reached its highest level of the year at 5,515 head, up about 200 on the week earlier.
Bulls over 16 months but under 24 months continue to trade from €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg for R grades and €3.80/kg to €3.90/kg for U grades, with the lower prices paid in cases for heavy carcase bulls.
Producers should also establish potential cuts on weight in negotiations. O grading bulls are selling from €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg.
Bulls less than 16 months and priced on the grid are being offered a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg.
Steady NI trade
Last week’s beef prices eased by an average of 2p/kg and, while pressure remains on the trade, prices appear to have steadied.
Base U-3 steer and heifer quotes range from £3.38/kg to £3.42/kg or the equivalent of €4.14/kg to €4.19/kg at 86p to the euro and 5.4% VAT.
However, there are very little cattle moving at this base, with sellers handling small numbers securing 2p/kg to 4p/kg higher, rising to a base of £3.48/kg to £3.52 (€4.27/kg to €4.31/kg) at the higher end of the market.
Fleshed O grade cows are selling from £2.40/kg to £2.55/kg, with R grades to £2.70/kg.
British prices have also stabilised after recent price pressure, with R4L steers and heifers averaging £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg (€4.41/kg to €4.44/kg).
The AHDB reports prices running 20p/kg (23c) above the corresponding week in 2016. Young R3 bulls are selling from £3.35/kg to £3.45/kg (€4.10/kg to €4.23/kg), with fleshed O grading cows remaining at £2.35/kg to £2.40/kg (€2.88/kg to €2.94/kg).
Read more
Download the Irish Farmers Journal news app today and get the latest prices for all grades and all factories through the built-in Livestock Tool.
The higher weekly kill of 34,214 head, up 1,056 on the previous week, is taking some of the pressure off factories to meet their required throughput.
Demand remains firm, but with close to 3,000 extra cattle handled in the last two weeks, it has, in cases, made it easier for agents to fill orders.
Prices by and large remain unchanged, although some plants are trying to get a higher percentage of steers bought at a base of €3.75/kg rather than €3.80/kg.
The success of this is variable, with many independent plants with lower access to contracted cattle purchasing the majority of steers at a €3.80/kg base.
There are only very small numbers moving at the top end of the market for a base of €3.85/kg.
The majority of heifers are trading on a base of €3.90/kg, with attempts to offer lower being knocked back by continued firm demand and plenty of competition for good-quality types.
At the top end of the market, there are still a small number of specialist producers securing a base of €3.95/kg.
More cows and bulls
The lift in last week’s kill is being driven by cow throughput rising 696 to 7,627 head. Demand remains strong, which continues to be reflected in strong agent activity in marts.
P+3 grading cows are trading in the main from €3.00/kg to €3.05/kg, but prices up to 10c/kg higher have been paid to sellers handling large numbers.
Likewise, fleshed O grading cows are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.15/kg, but, again, regular sellers have secured up to €3.25/kg, while R grades are selling from €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg at the top of the market in plants most active for cows.
U grades are selling from €3.40/kg to €3.45/kg, with a very brisk mart trade for young, well conformed fleshed cows.
The bull kill has reached its highest level of the year at 5,515 head, up about 200 on the week earlier.
Bulls over 16 months but under 24 months continue to trade from €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg for R grades and €3.80/kg to €3.90/kg for U grades, with the lower prices paid in cases for heavy carcase bulls.
Producers should also establish potential cuts on weight in negotiations. O grading bulls are selling from €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg.
Bulls less than 16 months and priced on the grid are being offered a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg.
Steady NI trade
Last week’s beef prices eased by an average of 2p/kg and, while pressure remains on the trade, prices appear to have steadied.
Base U-3 steer and heifer quotes range from £3.38/kg to £3.42/kg or the equivalent of €4.14/kg to €4.19/kg at 86p to the euro and 5.4% VAT.
However, there are very little cattle moving at this base, with sellers handling small numbers securing 2p/kg to 4p/kg higher, rising to a base of £3.48/kg to £3.52 (€4.27/kg to €4.31/kg) at the higher end of the market.
Fleshed O grade cows are selling from £2.40/kg to £2.55/kg, with R grades to £2.70/kg.
British prices have also stabilised after recent price pressure, with R4L steers and heifers averaging £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg (€4.41/kg to €4.44/kg).
The AHDB reports prices running 20p/kg (23c) above the corresponding week in 2016. Young R3 bulls are selling from £3.35/kg to £3.45/kg (€4.10/kg to €4.23/kg), with fleshed O grading cows remaining at £2.35/kg to £2.40/kg (€2.88/kg to €2.94/kg).
Read more
Download the Irish Farmers Journal news app today and get the latest prices for all grades and all factories through the built-in Livestock Tool.
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