The mood at the FBD National Livestock Show on Sunday was one of positivity.

Some factory procurement staff weren’t on the same wave of positivity, with some citing high store prices as being a big risk for some of their feeders.

Some also took a negative slant on the current lift in prices, citing consumption issues across the water affecting the trade.

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When all that chat was over, the next question was “how many cattle will you have for me with procurement staff still anxious for stock?”.

That’s evident as well in Monday’s mart sales, with factory agents continuing to be very active looking for finished cattle, especially well-fleshed heavy dry cows.

This week’s beef quotes are similar to last week, with most processors working off a base price of €7.50/kg for heifers and €7.60/kg for heifers.

There is more going and up to 20c/kg more where numbers are involved on some factory sites. Flat prices of as high as €8.20/kg are being paid for in-spec Aberdeen Angus cattle, with breed bonuses of up to 30c/kg available for cattle being sold on the grid.

Internationally, the Irish beef price continues to perform very well, with the Irish price tracking above the UK price and well above the average EU price.

Cows

The cow trade remains very steady, with factory agents active for heavy, well-covered cows. R grading cows are generally trading at €7.30/kg to €7.40/kg, while O grading cows are coming in around €7.10/kg to €7.20/kg.

Up to €7.60/kg has been paid for U grading cows this week. Larger finishers with big numbers of cows have been able to get 20c/kg more for well-finished cows.

There is a big range in quotes for P grading cows, with those with numbers able to bargain for more.

Up to €7.10/kg is back on the table for well-finished dairy cows, with the higher prices dependent on weight and flesh cover.

Bulls

The manufacturing trade is under big pressure for beef and that has lifted cow quotes along with lifting bull quotes.

Up to €7.80/kg to €8.00/kg is now available at the top end for U grading bulls where numbers are involved, working back to €7.40/kg to €7.50/kg for O grading bulls.

Higher quotes have been paid to feeders dealing with bigger numbers.