The beef trade remains unchanged, with factories appearing happy to work with lower numbers.

A number of plants have adjusted their processing activity in response to a reduction in throughput, with some operating a half day or day’s less kill in the last week.

Bull throughput

Bull throughput has improved in some plants in response to lower overall throughput, but in others finishers continue to face a significant lead-in time from booking-in to slaughter.

Prices for steers and heifers have been running at the same base of €3.75/kg for steers and €3.85/kg for heifers for almost 20 weeks, with very little deviation from this price.

Demand for heavy steer carcases over 430kg to 440kg remains variable, with some producers getting a small number away without any cuts where these animals are the minority in a load.

Others are being met with sluggish demand or cuts of 10c/kg.

Variable prices

Bull prices continue to be extremely variable, with this especially the case for Friesian bulls.

Prices for O grading bulls range from €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg at the top of the market to as low as €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg where bulls are falling into the O- category or are poorly fleshed.

R grades range from €3.40/kg to €3.60/kg, while U grading bulls are selling from €3.50/kg to €3.70/kg.

Penalties continue for bulls deemed overweight, with plants generally cutting from 430kg to 440kg carcase weight upwards.

Again, there are producers getting smaller numbers in a load away without incurring penalties.

Cow trade

The cow trade is solid, with the mart trade grabbing the attention for prices paid for top-quality R+ and U grading cows and cow heifers.

Factory prices for this type of cow range from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg, while R grading cows are selling anywhere from €3.00/kg to €3.20/kg, with the majority of sellers with smaller numbers securing between €3.00/kg and €3.10/kg.

Meanwhile, O grading cows range from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg, with P+3 grading cows running 10c/kg to 15c/kg lower.

NI throughput

Throughput in Northern Ireland is exceeding demand, leaving factories with the upper hand in negotiations.

The U-3 base quote ranges from £3.30/kg to £3.34/kg.

Sterling has maintained last week’s strengthening in value and at 85.9p to the euro, this base equates to €3.84/kg to €3.89/kg and €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

Top returns are in the region of £3.40/kg, with average heifer prices running 2p/kg above steers in many cases.

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Good trade for beef cattle at Headford

In pictures: solid start to Bandon's second weekly calf sale