Some processors continue to try to talk down the trade this week with some threatening to pull quotes by 10 cent/kg.

This appears to be idle talk and prices have remained at a similar level to where they where last week.

Bullocks are working off a base price of €7.50-€7.60/kg while heifers are working off a base price of €7.60-€7.70/kg. There is more going to larger finishers who are dealing in bigger numbers on a weekly basis.

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Flat prices of up to €8.20/kg are being paid for in-spec Aberdeen Angus cattle where numbers are involved and breed bonuses of up to 30 cent/kg are available when selling on the grid. Supplies of finished cattle remain very tight with no sign of any increase in the near future.

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.