Factories continue to ease beef prices back, with general base quotes easing 5c/kg to €4.05/kg for steers and €4.15/kg for heifers. Frequent sellers or those handling higher numbers and digging in hard on price are having more success in securing a base of €4.20/kg for heifers than sellers holding out for €4.10/kg for steers. There are some deals being done at €4.10/kg for steers, but these are harder to achieve as the week progresses.

Agents report a continued steady flow of cattle, with last week’s kill recorded at 29,760 head.

There have been lots of murmurs in the trade that an associated benefit for plants in getting the beef price back is a lower store price. While prices weakened in previous weeks, the store price is reported as hardening in the last week.

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This has occurred on the back of farmers harvesting crops and getting back on track. Reports also indicate agents purchasing for factory feedlots have stepped up activity in marts and farm to farm sales.

Variable bull quotes: It is harder to put a price range on the bull trade. Sellers handling small numbers are moving U grades from €4.10/kg to €4.15/kg.

Specialised finishers are reported as securing an extra 5c/kg to 10c/kg from the market. Plainer O grade bulls are meeting sluggish demand, with fleshed O=/+ bulls trading at €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.

Bulls under 16 months and trading on the grid are being quoted at €4.10/kg, with some plants pointing to a 5c/kg lower quote for next week.

Throughput of stock bulls is increasing, which is normal for the time of year. Prices on offer for R/U grade bulls range from €2.70/kg to €2.90/kg, with some plants paying up to €3.10/kg for young, fleshed bulls.

Cow trade: P+3 and O grading cows are selling in the main from €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg – 15c/kg to 20c/kg back on a few weeks ago. Quotes for R grades are holding more robust, with an average price of €3.80/kg. U grades are trading anywhere from €3.85/kg to €3.95/kg, with the mart trade described as remaining strong for fleshed cows.

Lower NI imports: The number of cattle exported north for direct slaughter has been low for several weeks, with only 323 cattle exported last week for direct slaughter. This compares with 863 cattle exported for the corresponding week in 2014.

However, yearly exports are higher in 2015 with 15,889 cattle moving north for direct slaughter, compared with 12,389 in 2014. Lower exports north come on the back of continued difficulties in getting southern-born cattle slaughtered in northern export plants.

Similar to southern plants, NI processors tried to reduce prices by the equivalent of 5c/kg last week. The move has been largely resisted, with plants forced to forego their lower U-3 quote of £3.18/kg (equivalent €4.74/kg) and offer a quote of £3.22/kg to £3.24/kg (€4.80/kg to €4.83/kg including VAT) to secure sales.

Weaker GB trade: British beef prices remain under a period of price pressure, with AHDB reporting prices easing 2p/kg to 4p/kg. This is despite the weekly kill reducing. AHDB attribute pressure on the trade to adequate supplies in the market and well stocked chill rooms.

However, similar to Ireland, numbers are forecast to tighten significantly as the year progresses, which the industry body says could revert prices on to a positive footing, with some sellers securing more.

Caution on fat cover: Processors are cautioning farmers to draft cattle as they come fit to avoid being penalised for over-fat carcases.

The greatest issues are with traditional-bred animals and heifers. With the spring-calving nature of the suckler and dairy herd, it is also advisable to keep an eye on the 30-month age limit.