Factories are felling the heat from their big feeders over the price of stores, with many of the larger feeders asking serious questions about filling sheds this winter given where the store price is at and the lack of any meaningful engagement from factories on contract prices.

The level of risk has doubled for finishers in the last 12 months, with close to €300,000 needed to fill a shed with 100 forward store bullocks for a winter finish.

The store market is probably outperforming the dead market at the moment and that’s what is frustrating finishers at present.

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Some factories did move last week to implement a ban on killing any cattle bought in marts within 30 days of purchase.

They have seen a huge shift in the last 12 months, with smaller finishers opting to sell in the mart as opposed to deal direct with the factory.

The plan would effectively cut out dealers buying animals for direct next-day killing.

Speaking to mart managers, nothing has changed in the trade over the last week, with factory agents still battling it out for stock in marts.

Low numbers is causing huge headaches for procurement managers with factories fighting over supplies.

This week’s beef quotes are similar to last week, with most processors working off a base price of €7.50/kg to €7.60/kg for bullocks and €7.60/kg to €7.70/kg for heifers.

Up to €7.90/kg base price has been paid this week for big loads of U grading continental heifers.

There is more going and up to 20c/kg more where numbers are involved on some factory sites.

Flat prices of as high as €8.20/kg are being paid for in-spec Aberdeen Angus cattle, with breed bonuses of up to 30c/kg available for cattle being sold on the grid.

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 for more.

Up to €7.15/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 bull quotes.

Up to €7.80/kg to €8.00/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 have been paid to feeders dealing with bigger numbers.

Last week’s kill came in at just over 24,000 head, similar to the previous week’s kill.

The cow kill dropped below 5,000 head for the first time in 2025, with factories under real pressure for cows to fill manufacturing beef contracts.

Smaller independent factories are dominating the mart trade for cows, with some very big prices being paid for dry cows in marts this week.

It was also the second-lowest heifer kill of the year, with just 7,185 heifers killed last week, back from 7,308 head a week ago.

Across the water, the beef trade remains in a steady position, with 640p/kg (€7.82/kg incl VAT) leaving a minimal gap between the British and Irish price at the moment.

The latest information from Bord Bia would indicate that Ireland is ahead of the UK price by 4c/kg.

NI comment

Prices in Northern Ireland remain steady at 650p to 655p/kg (€7.94-€8.00/kg incl VAT).