Beef Trends: quotes nudge up again

The beef trade continues to kick on, with another 5c to 10c/kg of an increase evident in quotes for this week’s kill.

Bullocks are working off a base quote of €5.80/kg to €5.85/kg, with heifers at €5.90/kg to €5.95/kg.

A base quote of €6/kg has also been paid for heifers to get deals across the line.

Base quotes are fast becoming redundant given the leeway and additions that agents are adding to quotes this week.

The trade shows no signs of abating, with factories anxious to line up supplies for the next couple of weeks.

Agents continue to light up marts, with an insatiable demand for heavy well-fleshed dry cows over the weekend.

The outlook remains very positive, with tight supplies expected to drive prices for the foreseeable future.

Flat deals

Prices of as high as €6.50/kg flat are being paid for big loads of continental cattle this week.

Several deals have been done for O grading Aberdeen Angus heifers at €6.40/kg to €6.45/kg flat. Flat prices for Friesian bullocks of as high as €6.00/kg are available, depending on the numbers involved.

Cows

O+ suckler cows are generally working off €5.30/kg to €5.40/kg, while O grading dairy cows are being bought at €5.20/kg to €5.30/kg, depending on the factory.

R grading cows are being quoted at €5.50/kg to €5.60/kg and higher money is available where numbers are involved.

P+3 cows are working off €5.10/kg to €5.20/kg, depending on weight, age and flesh.

Well-fleshed U grading cows continue to command top prices of €5.70/kg to €5.90/kg and over for young, fleshed heavy cows.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are still working off €6.00/kg to €6.20/kg for U grading bulls and higher where larger numbers are involved.

Flat prices of €6.10/kg and over it is on the table where big numbers are involved.

R grading bulls are coming in at €5.90/kg to €6.00/kg, while O grading bulls are being bought at €5.70/kg to €5.80/kg.

Under-16-month bulls are working off a base price of €5.80/kg before any QA bonus or grid payments are added.

Last week’s kill took a big jump to 37,247 head, with cows seeing the biggest increase of over 3,000 head on the previous week. The bullock and heifer kill was also up over 1,000 head compared with last week.

Prices across the water have also seen another big increase, with quotes up 10p to 15p in Britain on the back of lower supplies and huge demand, with £6/kg (€7.60/kg incl VAT)on the table for Angus cattle.

Cull cows in Britain saw a 20p/kg rise in some factories last week.

The British cow kill is down almost 1,500 head on the same week in 2024. UK beef production is set to decline by 5% in 2025, which is positive news for Irish exports.

IFA livestock chair Declan Hanrahan said: “Numbers of beef cattle are expected to be lowest for the first half of the year, which creates real opportunity for prices to rise further and close the gap with the UK price.

“Farmers should be aware of the strength of demand for beef and the capacity in the market place for further price rises. Farmers with cattle to sell should not be misled by some factories offering quotes well below what is available.”

NI comment

Quotes are up 6p/kg at NI plants to 528p/kg (€6.58/kg inc VAT) for U-3 animals, but prices generally open on 546p/kg (€6.81/kg) for in-spec animals.

Regular finishers with greater bargaining power are securing above 550p/kg (€6.86/kg), with higher prices dependent on numbers available.

Cows are a solid trade, with young suckler types making 450p to 460p/kg (€5.61 to €5.74/kg), with plainer, older sorts back at 420p/kg (€5.40/kg).