The beef trade has taken an upward turn this week, with heifers moving to a base of €4.25/kg in some factories.

Other processors are holding on at €4.20/kg base but are expected to move to the higher quote next week.

Bullocks continue to work off a €4.15/kg base price, with €4.20/kg being paid where big numbers are involved.

Young bulls continue to move off €4.15/kg, with under-24-month bulls working off €4.15/kg for R grades and €4.25/kg for U grades.

Cow prices are under the most pressure, with poorer-quality cows seeing less demand as factories focus on the prime cattle kill.

Good-quality suckler-bred cows are still attracting quotes of €3.80-€4.00/kg.

Carcase weights

Recent analysis by Bord Bia shows that for the period of January to August 2021, carcase weights have reduced by 4.5kg on the same period in 2020.

Bullocks are back by 3.3kg to 354kg, bulls are back 6.6kg to 376kg, heifers are back by 4.2kg to 316kg and cows are back by 4.4kg to 312kg.

In 2010, some 60% of the national kill came from the suckler herd with 40% coming from the dairy herd

Multiplying that up by a 350kg carcase weight, it comes into just over the equivalent of 17,000 fewer animals processed up to August this year.

The changing picture of the national kill is having an effect on carcase weights as more animals originate from the dairy herd.

In 2010, some 60% of the national kill came from the suckler herd with 40% coming from the dairy herd. Over the following 10 years, this changed to 60% from the dairy herd and 40% from the suckler herd in 2020.

Cattle are also being killed at a younger age, with agents reporting a lot of 18- t0 20-month dairy beef heifers slaughtered off grass this year compared to other years.