Factories have started the week trying to buy cattle for less, with the standard quote for steers down 10c/kg to €7.50/kg, with €7.60/kg being offered for heifers, again 10c/kg lower than last week.
As always, sellers with good numbers of in-spec cattle will be in a stronger negotiating position and there are deals available above the quoted prices.
Whether or not these quotes will succeed in attracting cattle will only become apparent over the coming days.
The dry weather has meant grass has become scarce in several areas, especially in the south and east of the country, and this is encouraging farmers to move cattle, particularly cows that otherwise might have been kept on for feeding.
Cows
As a result, prices for plainer P grading cows have slipped below €6/kg this week in many factories, with €5.90/kg being offered for P grades, while O grades are moving between €6/kg and €6.10/kg.
Interestingly, the trade remains very strong for good-quality cows, with prices in general holding anywhere between €6.30/kg and €6.40/kg for R grading cows and €6.50/kg to €6.60/kg for the few cows that secure U grades.
Prices for young bulls aren’t as volatile, as these are very much produced to order, especially at this time of year.
As a result, we expect minimal movement in prices, with R grades holding around €6.40/kg and U grades around €6.60/kg, with 10c/kg to 20c/kg being offered for over-age bulls.
Under-16-month bulls are being quoted around €6.30/kg on the grid.
Mart option
We heard that the mart trade was on fire for factory-ready steers and heifers at the weekend, but in the more southern marts, the trade isn’t just as vibrant.
If factories persist with offering lower prices, it could mean that agents are more active around the rings as this week progresses.
