The high rainfall levels over the last week have seen farmers in the east and south taking a decision to move on the last of slaughter-fit or house cattle.

With cattle housed much earlier than expected in these area, reports suggest supplies of steers and heifers are starting to tighten somewhat. This is reflected in factory agents ringing producers to source cattle in recent days.

Throughput is still high and is not likely to fall back greatly, rather the phone calls are stemming from factories being anxious to maintain throughput at current levels.

While there is more bite in the trade, buyers are very slow to budge on price.

Steers and heifers in demand

The majority of steers are trading at a base of €3.75/kg, while heifers are trading in the main at a base of €3.85/kg.

There are a small number of deals involving large lots of heifers trading at the top of the market at a base of €3.88/kg to €3.90/kg, while, in other cases, transport costs are being part or fully covered to entice sales.

Bulls remain strong

Bull throughput is steady, with farmers continuing to move bulls to make space for other cattle coming indoors.

U grade bulls are trading in the main from €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg with specialist finishers in a stronger negotiating position. R grades are selling from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg, with some sellers agreeing on a flat price of €3.90/kg for mixed R and U grade lots.

Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg.

Cows

Cows are steady, with numbers holding better than for steers and heifers and boosted by more cows being culled from dairy herds. P+3 grading cows are selling from €3.05/kg at the lower end of the market to €3.15/kg to €3.20/kg.

Fleshed O grades are averaging €3.25/kg to €3.35/kg, with R grades from €3.30/kg to €3.50/kg and even higher where trading from large suppliers.

Likewise, U grades are selling anywhere from €3.45/kg to €3.60/kg and over.

Northern Ireland trade

The northern trade is steady, with U-3 base quotes unchanged at a range of £3.48/kg to £3.54/kg, although a high percentage of deals are being completed at a base of £3.52/kg.

This equates to a base of €3.96/kg at an exchange rate of 88.9p to the euro, rising to €4.17/kg where VAT at 5.4% is added.

O grading cows also remain unchanged, with a wide price range of £2.60/kg to £2.80/kg (€3.08/kg to €3.32/kg including VAT).

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