The beef trade has steadied, with prices holding for in-spec steers and heifers, but with more cows coming on stream finished cows are under pressure this week.

The cow kill rose by 1,362 head last week, the largest jump since early April.

There is a feeling on the ground that factories will use the extra cows coming on stream to put pressure on beef price.

While the cow kill will always rise at this time of year, the drought conditions have added extra pressure on some farms, with certain farmers choosing to offload cows a little earlier than usual.

There is a feeling on the ground that factories will use the extra cows coming on stream to put pressure on beef price

The general base price on offer across the board is €3.60 for steers and €3.65 for heifers. There are some plants quoting €3.55/kg base, but they are generally paying €3.60. While €3.65/kg for heifers is less common this week, it is still available to regular sellers with large numbers on offer.

Angus cattle that fit retail spec are in especially high demand, with flat-priced deals of between €3.90/kg and €4.00/kg being paid to regular sellers with suitable stock.

There seems to be a north-south divide also, with southern-based factory agents more anxious for stock than those further north.

Bull quotes remain relatively unchanged at €3.50/kg for under-24-month R grade bulls and €3.55/kg to €3.60/kg for U grades.

O grading bulls are back at €3.40/kg, with appetite a little subdued for poorer-quality bulls.

Angus cattle that fit retail spec are in especially high demand

Under-16 -month bulls continue to trade at €3.55/kg to €3.60/kg on the grid.

Northern customers appear to be very active around mart rings for good-quality factory-fit cows and those close to slaughter. Looking at prices, the mart ring could be a better option for those with smaller numbers.

Poorer-quality cows are back in price in marts this week, as factory agents appear to be less eager to secure stock. Cow quotes this week are €2.80/kg for P+3 grading cows, with €2.90/kg available for well-finished O grading cows.

There was no basis for pressure on the Irish price

Good R grade cows are still in demand, with quotes holding around €3.10/kg, with a little more on offer for a mix of R and U grade cows.

Last week’s beef kill jumped by 2,173 head, which is the biggest rise that has taken place since numbers started to drop off six weeks ago.

At 31,049 head, we are catching up on what the kill was for the same week in 2019, which was at 34,803 head.

Cows made up the biggest rise, with an extra 1,362 cows killed last week compared with the previous week.

IFA national livestock chairman said farmers selling cattle need to bargain hard with the factories, as some plants are trying to hijack the cow price.

“Based on the continuing price increases of up to €4.15/kg for a R3 steer in our main export market in the UK, there was no basis for pressure on the Irish price,” he said.

Northern Ireland

The beef trade in Northern Ireland remains buoyant, with plants increasing base quotes by as much as 6p/kg to 346p/kg (€3.88/kg ex VAT) for U-3 grading animals.

However, there is a multitude of deals on offer, starting from a base of 350p/kg (€3.93/kg).

Young bulls are making 352p to 356p/kg (€3.93/kg to €4.00/kg), with steers making upwards to 360p/kg (€4.04/kg).

Regular sellers are reporting deals of 362p to 364p/kg (€4.06/kg to €4.09/kg) on offer.

Cull cows are a flying trade, with prices exceeding 300p/kg (€3.37/kg) for good-quality continental types.