There has been very little change in the beef trade over the last week.

Factory agents are happy to handle whatever numbers are coming on stream and, as a result, quotes remain on a similar footing.

Agents are doing their best to talk down the trade, with weather conditions in the south being mentioned on a few occasions this week, but this is having no effect on quotes.

Bullocks are trading on a base of €4.80/kg, with a few factories paying out €4.85/kg where numbers or regular customers are involved.

Heifers are trading at a 5c/kg higher base, with the general run moving on a base of €4.85/kg and small numbers at the top end of the market trading on a base of €4.90/kg.

Numbers of Angus and Hereford heifers are steady and these lots continue to secure an additional bonus of 15c/kg to 25c/kg, with payments influenced by breed, negotiating power and numbers on offer.

Cattle numbers

Procurement agents are not reporting any increase in cattle numbers coming on stream due to the drought or any issues with under-fleshed cattle.

It had been expected that there would have been an increase in the number of cull cows coming from the dairy herd, but milk prices are such that it is more economical to feed rather than move to cull numbers.

Last week’s kill came in at 35,864, up 1,000 head on the previous week’s kill, with the big increase coming from bullocks which were up over 1,200 head on the previous week.

Cow trade

The trade for fleshed cows remains vibrant. The general run of R and U grading cows is €4.80/kg and €4.90/kg respectively.

There is a 5c/kg to 10c/kg swing in prices in cases, depending on the purchasing plant’s activity in the cow trade and the number and type of cows on offer.

For heavy young cows, the mart ring is the still the place where the best value will be realised at the moment, with a number of big fight-outs in marts over the last seven days between factory agents and wholesalers.

O grading cows range anywhere from €4.55/kg to €4.75/kg, with P+3 grading cows delivering a carcase in excess of 250kg selling from €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg.

Producers should note that there are cuts rising anywhere from 70c/kg to €1/kg for under-fleshed light-carcase cows.

Young bull trade

There is also significant difference between plants for young bulls.

Prices are ranging from €4.75/kg to €4.90/kg, with specialist finishers trading at the higher end of the range.

O grading bulls are trading from €4.50/kg to €4.70/kg, with flesh cover and carcase weight influencing price.

Commenting on the trade, IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden said: “There is capacity in the marketplace for stronger beef prices and factories must start reflecting this to close the gap with prices in our key export markets.

“Farmers are in the process of making key decisions on finishing cattle for the coming months and cannot be expected to take on this risk in the absence of minimum price guarantees from factories for the coming months and into next spring.”

NI comment

Finished cattle are a relatively steady trade north of the border, with no change to base quotes at 430p/kg (€5.40/kg inc VAT).

Price deals are running at 438p/kg (€5.50/kg) for prime steers, with heifers faring 2p to 4p/kg better for regular finishers.

Cull cows are on a top quote of 365p/kg (€4.58/kg) for R3 animals, with prices running 10p to 15p/kg above this level for regular finishers.