The beef trade remains in a positive position this week, with quotes at a similar level to where they were last week.

A huge gap is opening up among factories, with some that are really struggling to get cattle having to open up the purse a little more this week to get adequate daily supplies.

Farmers are advised to price around and not accept opening quotes.

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In almost all cases, there is more money available when pressure is applied.

Prices have moved up in some cases, with very few bullocks now being bought at €7.40/kg and the majority moving at €7.50/kg and above it.

It’s a similar story with heifers, with the majority moving at €7.60/kg this week, with a few moving at €7.70/kg.

There have been agents trying to buy heifers at €7.50/kg, but there is more available.

Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle are also in big demand, with breed bonuses of between 20c and 30c/kg available for in-spec cattle.

Flat prices are also back on the table not just for Aberdeen Angus cattle, but also for continental cattle.

I have spoken to farmers this week who have been able to get €8.10/kg flat price for Aberdeen Angus bullocks and heifers, with another larger finisher able to squeeze €8.40/kg flat price for a large number of continental heifers.

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 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 €7.90/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 of €7.90/kg have been paid to feeders dealing with bigger numbers.

The kill remains very low for the time of year. Last week’s kill came in just under 24,500, still almost 9,000 behind 2024.

The cow kill saw the biggest drop last week, down 500 head. The bullock kill saw a big lift, with an extra 1,000 killed.

Finishers should keep an eye on ages over the next few weeks, as spring 2023-born cattle come up to 30 months

British trade

The trade across the water remains very firm, with up to £6.60/kg (€8.07/kg incl VAT) available, showing that the price gap between Ireland and Britain has narrowed in recent weeks, with both prices now as level as they have been for a long number of months.

Supplies of finished cattle also remain tight across the water, with the kill running 2,000 head per week behind the same weeks in 2024.

Irish beef exports to the UK are down by almost 3,000 tonnes in 2025 compared with 2024, but we still hold pole position in relation to the percentage of beef imported, with Irish beef accounting for almost 75% of all beef imports to the UK so far in 2025.

NI trade

Moving closer to home, quotes remain steady with £6.50/kg on the table for in-spec cattle in Northern Ireland this week.

Higher prices are available to more regular suppliers and those dealing in numbers.

Supplies of cattle continue to remain very tight, with factory agents active in marts.