Last week’s beef kill increased by just 87 head to 32,199, despite factory agent appetite to handle higher numbers.
Factories are having to work harder than before the Christmas break when throughput averaged 35,000 head for over two months.
This is leaving sellers with higher numbers in a stronger selling position, although reports show price variability between and even within plants, depending on how much agents want the cattle.
Steers are trading in the main at a base of €3.80/kg. Some plants are trying to purchase at a lower base of €3.75/kg, with these prices generally confined to sellers handling small numbers and possessing less bargaining power.
Heifers are trading in general on a base of €3.90/kg, with some moving at a base of €3.85/kg. There is more scope to obtain a premium on heifers than steers. Sellers operating at the higher end of the market are securing a 5c/kg higher base of €3.95/kg for choice lots with young heifers in tight supply.
A similar trend is present for a rising entry of young bulls, with last week’s kill increasing 53 head to 5,348.
There is a differential of 10c/kg in cases between prices reported. R grading bulls are selling from €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg. Plants are trying to confine U grade bulls to €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg, but some sellers have secured higher for large lots of bulls being traded.
Weight limits imposed also vary, with some continuing to implement an upper limit ranging from 420kg to 450kg, while others continue to give allowances up to 480kg to 500kg, depending on the nature of the deal and numbers involved.
Where plants are imposing price reductions on weight, it is generally 10c/kg. Good-quality O=/+ grading Friesian bulls also remain in demand, selling from €3.60/kg all the way to €3.75/kg. Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling from a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg.
Firm cow trade
Last week’s cow kill increased 230 head to 6,545, with agents keen to source higher numbers from mart sales. This should be noted by sellers with a small number of cows on hand and struggling to secure higher prices from factory buyers.
Prices vary greatly, with P+3 grading cows ranging from €2.90/kg to €3.10/kg, with O grades from €3.05/kg to €3.20/kg, with higher prices paid to specialised finishers handling very high numbers. R grading cows are trading from €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg, with U grades rising to €3.50/kg.
Northern trade
The northern trade has steadied after easing slightly in recent weeks. U-3 base quotes for steers and heifers remain at £3.44/kg to £3.46/kg. With sterling reducing to 85p to the euro, this equates to €4.27/kg to €4.29/kg including the higher flat rate VAT addition of 5.4%.
Demand has eased on the back of more supplies in the market, with regular sellers confined to raising quotes 2p/kg to 6p/kg.
The cow trade is steady, with O grades selling from £2.40/kg to £2.50/kg (€2.98/kg to €3.10/kg), while good R grading continental cows are selling from £2.55/kg to £2.65/kg (€3.16/kg to €3.29/kg).
Young bulls are trading from £3.42/kg to £3.44/kg (€4.25/kg to €4.27/kg).
British prices have eased by 2p/kg to 3p/kg in recent weeks, with demand easier and more supplies in the market.
R4L steers and heifers range on average from £3.60/kg to £3.65/kg (€4.46/kg to €4.53/kg incl VAT), while O grading cows have strengthened and range from £2.35/kg to £2.40/kg (€2.91/kg to €2.98/kg incl VAT).
R grading young bulls are selling on average from £3.40/kg to £3.45/kg.
Read more
Graph: CSO figures confirm surge in beef supply
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.
Last week’s beef kill increased by just 87 head to 32,199, despite factory agent appetite to handle higher numbers.
Factories are having to work harder than before the Christmas break when throughput averaged 35,000 head for over two months.
This is leaving sellers with higher numbers in a stronger selling position, although reports show price variability between and even within plants, depending on how much agents want the cattle.
Steers are trading in the main at a base of €3.80/kg. Some plants are trying to purchase at a lower base of €3.75/kg, with these prices generally confined to sellers handling small numbers and possessing less bargaining power.
Heifers are trading in general on a base of €3.90/kg, with some moving at a base of €3.85/kg. There is more scope to obtain a premium on heifers than steers. Sellers operating at the higher end of the market are securing a 5c/kg higher base of €3.95/kg for choice lots with young heifers in tight supply.
A similar trend is present for a rising entry of young bulls, with last week’s kill increasing 53 head to 5,348.
There is a differential of 10c/kg in cases between prices reported. R grading bulls are selling from €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg. Plants are trying to confine U grade bulls to €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg, but some sellers have secured higher for large lots of bulls being traded.
Weight limits imposed also vary, with some continuing to implement an upper limit ranging from 420kg to 450kg, while others continue to give allowances up to 480kg to 500kg, depending on the nature of the deal and numbers involved.
Where plants are imposing price reductions on weight, it is generally 10c/kg. Good-quality O=/+ grading Friesian bulls also remain in demand, selling from €3.60/kg all the way to €3.75/kg. Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling from a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg.
Firm cow trade
Last week’s cow kill increased 230 head to 6,545, with agents keen to source higher numbers from mart sales. This should be noted by sellers with a small number of cows on hand and struggling to secure higher prices from factory buyers.
Prices vary greatly, with P+3 grading cows ranging from €2.90/kg to €3.10/kg, with O grades from €3.05/kg to €3.20/kg, with higher prices paid to specialised finishers handling very high numbers. R grading cows are trading from €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg, with U grades rising to €3.50/kg.
Northern trade
The northern trade has steadied after easing slightly in recent weeks. U-3 base quotes for steers and heifers remain at £3.44/kg to £3.46/kg. With sterling reducing to 85p to the euro, this equates to €4.27/kg to €4.29/kg including the higher flat rate VAT addition of 5.4%.
Demand has eased on the back of more supplies in the market, with regular sellers confined to raising quotes 2p/kg to 6p/kg.
The cow trade is steady, with O grades selling from £2.40/kg to £2.50/kg (€2.98/kg to €3.10/kg), while good R grading continental cows are selling from £2.55/kg to £2.65/kg (€3.16/kg to €3.29/kg).
Young bulls are trading from £3.42/kg to £3.44/kg (€4.25/kg to €4.27/kg).
British prices have eased by 2p/kg to 3p/kg in recent weeks, with demand easier and more supplies in the market.
R4L steers and heifers range on average from £3.60/kg to £3.65/kg (€4.46/kg to €4.53/kg incl VAT), while O grading cows have strengthened and range from £2.35/kg to £2.40/kg (€2.91/kg to €2.98/kg incl VAT).
R grading young bulls are selling on average from £3.40/kg to £3.45/kg.
Read more
Graph: CSO figures confirm surge in beef supply
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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