Beef throughput continues to satisfy demand, with this week’s trade starting in a steady manner.

Steers are moving on a base of €3.75/kg, with heifers on a base of €3.85/kg and in isolated cases on a base of €3.90/kg.

Numbers continue to come on stream in a uniform fashion, with the heifer kill running ahead of previous years and the steer kill running in line with 2018 levels.

No change in trade

There is also no change in the trade for bulls and cows.

U grading bulls are trading anywhere from €3.50/kg to €3.65/kg, with higher prices confined to lighter carcases and producers with a strong processor relationship.

It is a similar case as you move through conformation grades, with R grades trading from €3.40/kg to €3.60/kg, while O grading bulls are meeting a much wider differential, starting at €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg at the bottom of the market and for bulls exceeding 24 months of age to €3.30/kg to €3.35/kg at the top of the market.

Cow trade

The cow trade is firm, with P+3 grading cows ranging from €2.60/kg to €2.75/kg, while O grading cows are ranging from €2.85/kg to €2.95/kg.

A high percentage of R grading cows are trading from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg, with top prices rising to €3.20/kg.

U grading cows are low in number, which is generating solid demand, with prices in turn ranging from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg.

Sustained price pressure

The latest AHDB British cattle price report points to sustained price pressure, with average prices reducing by 1p/kg.

R4L steers and heifers are trading for £3.56/kg and £3.53/kg respectively.

At Monday evening’s slightly firmer exchange rate of 85.4p to the euro, this equates to €4.17/kg and €4.14/kg or €4.39/kg and €4.36/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

The AHDB report also points to a high Irish kill as putting pressure on the UK trade.

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