There is still little sign of any easing to the cuts in the beef trade this week, with quotes back another 10c/kg across the board.

That said, the fall in the cattle kill in the last week has focused attention on supplies for the next few weeks.

Summer weather last week has helped sales, with some procurement managers pointing to a steadying of the trade in the UK also having a stabilising effect on the Irish trade.

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June is usually the tightest month of the year for beef supplies, but factories appear to have managed this one to avoid any huge gaps to fill like last year.

This week’s base quotes range from €6.30/kg to €6.40/kg for bullocks, with heifers working off a base range of €6.40/kg to €6.50/kg.

Some factories are holding hard to a €6.30/kg base price for bullocks, while others are working off a base price similar to last week.

Procurement managers are also stretching out supplies, killing smaller numbers for some farmers on a weekly basis to get cattle into the factory over a number of weeks rather than all in one go.

This is leading to delays in getting some cattle killed, with farmers in the difficult position of having to hold on to cattle which could be worth less money in two weeks’ time.

Flat prices for Aberdeen Angus cattle have also dropped 10c/kg in the last 10 days, with €6.55/kg now being quoted in some factories. Flat prices for Friesian cattle are generally working around quoted bases.

Breed bonuses, where available, are still in the range of 10c to 20c/kg for in-spec Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks and heifers.

It should be added that contracted cattle are working well ahead of any quoted prices and Meat Industry Ireland (MII) alluded to this in its appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture last week.

In an answer to Paul Lawless TD around the fact that the Department of Agriculture official prices were not dropping as fast as quoted prices, MII director Dale Crammond pointed to the fact that some contracted cattle were being purchased at a higher price by factories.

There was very little solace for finishers in any of the discussion at the committee, with a perfect storm of increased third-country imports into the UK, reduced demand caused by food price inflation and a build-up of stocks on cold stores over the last few months

Cows

R grading cows are being priced at €6.10/kg to €6.20/kg, with more going to those with numbers. U grading cows are now being bought at €6.20/kg to €6.40/kg, with higher prices going to regular cow sellers and specialist feeders.

O grading cows are being bought for around €6.00/kg. P+3 cows are coming in at €5.80/kg to €5.90/kg, with some factories quoting lower for very light cows.

R grading bulls are coming in at €6.40/kg to €6.50/kg, with U grading bulls being quoted at €6.50/kg to €6.60/kg.

O grading bulls are working off an all-in price of €6.20/kg to €6.40/kg, while P grading bulls are being quoted at €6.10/kg to €6.30/kg, depending on weight and flesh cover.

Over-age bulls are generally working off a price of €6.20/kg to €6.30/kg, depending on grades and flesh cover.

Under-16-month bulls are working off a €6.30/kg to €6.40/kg base price on the grid.

Speaking to mart managers, the heavy cattle trade has also come back in line with factory quotes, with a price reduction evident across the board for all types of cattle.

Last week’s kill came in at just over 30,000 head – a reduction of about 1,200 on the week before. Heifers saw the biggest drop, with over 700 fewer killed last week.

Last week’s kill was about 1,000 head up on the same week in 2025.

So far in 2026, there have been about 80,000 less head of cattle slaughtered in Ireland.