Beef quotes have taken a big jump this week, with heifer quotes rising to €7.60/kg in some locations.

In-spec heifers are generally working off a base of €7.50/kg, but the extra 10c/kg is available when pressure is applied.

Bullocks probably haven’t seen the same lift as heifers, but many factories are working off a base price of €7.40/kg, with a little more going to those with numbers.

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Flat prices are very common once again, with €8/kg paid in a number of locations for mixtures of cattle, with Friesian bullocks included.

In-spec Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle are also in big demand, with flat prices of as high as €8.25/kg being paid for Aberdeen Angus heifers this week.

On-the-grid bonuses of as high as 30c/kg are back on the table for Aberdeen Angus cattle in some locations as well.

Cows

Up to €7.60/kg is back on the table for top-quality U grading cows, with €7.20/kg to €7.40/kg available for R grading cows depending on weight and flesh cover.

Good-quality O grading suckler cows are coming in around €7.00/kg to €7.10/kg. Some farmers have managed to negotiate a price of €7.10/kg for mixtures of well-fleshed O and P grading cows.

P+3 cows are coming in at €6.90/kg, with €7.00/kg paid for larger loads of fleshed dairy cows this week. Manufacturing demand is still high, with mince one of the high performers in terms of sales over the last few weeks.

Bulls

Quotes of as high as €7.70/kg to €7.80/kg are available for U grading bulls where numbers are involved, working back to €7.30/kg to €7.40/kg for O grades.

R grading bulls are coming in at €7.50/kg to €7.60/kg this week.

Under-16-month-old bulls are working off a base price of €7.30/kg to €7.40/kg, with a little more going to those with numbers.