It is steady as it goes in the beef trade today as factories start off this week’s quotes the way they ended last week.

Steers are being quoted at €3.65/kg base in most locations. Some processors are talking about quoting €3.60/kg but there are few trading at that.

Further north there seems to be better demand for heifers with €3.70/kg still on offer from processors in the northern half of the country. Heifers in other locations are being quoted €3.65/kg.

Appetite has waned a little towards the south for factory-fit animals with the exception of Angus and Hereford stock. A bonus of €0.10/kg to €0.15/kg is available in most factories for suitable stock which hit weight and grade specifications.

Young bulls

Young bulls are trading at €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg base on the QPS grid which means that a U=3+ bull is coming into €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg if all bonuses are paid. Older bulls are working off €3.55/kg to €3.60/kg for R grading bulls and €3.65/kg to €3.70/kg for U grading bulls.

Cows are still in demand, with quotes for P grading cows coming in at €2.90/kg to €3.00/kg, O grading cows at €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg and R grading cows at €3.15/kg to €3.25/kg depending on numbers and quality.

Good-quality cows are still a very good trade in marts with good northern demand for suitable cows. Plainer cows are back in mart rings in the last few days reflecting reduced factory quotes but still commanding a better price than the factory route, especially for those with small numbers.

No pressure

Speaking to farmers in drier parts of the country, the general thought is that there is no pressure on most farmers to sell with ground conditions OK, especially in the east of the country.

Despite two confirmed cases of COVID-19 at ABP Clones, the factory remains open this week for cattle.