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The beef trade has steadied and in cases has witnessed more bite entering the trade.
All plants are anxious to maintain the higher throughput levels they have become accustomed to in recent weeks, but are slow to release the downward pressure on price.
Steers continue to trade on a mixed base of €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg, with regular sellers and those with higher numbers on offer in a better negotiating position.
The same trend is evident for heifers, with base prices ranging from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg, with small numbers of choice lots moving for 5c/kg higher.
Cow trade
The cow trade remains difficult to summarise given the wide differential in prices paid.
Good-quality fleshed cows are steady in price, with P+3 grading cows ranging on average from €2.80/kg to €3.05/kg, with fleshed O grading cows from €3.00/kg to €3.20/kg.
Prices fall off sharply where light-carcase and under-fleshed cows are concerned, with prices falling to less than €2/kg for light-carcase cows with a fat cover of 1.
R grades range from €3.20/kg to €3.40/kg, with U grades typically rising to €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg, with cow-specialist plants paying 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.
Young bulls
Prices for young bulls are unchanged. R grades range on average from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg, with U grades from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg.
Again, specialist finishers are capable of securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.
Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling on a base of €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg.
Fat cover and weight continue to be the two main factors responsible for bulls not being paid on the grid.
Irish beef exports to UK
The AHDB’s latest import and export update shows continued higher exports of Irish beef to the UK.
The volume of beef exported in July increased 4% to 15,000t, with Ireland dominating UK import volumes at 69%.
The latest increase brings exports to July to 112,300t, up 6% on the corresponding period in 2017.
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