Cracks have appeared in factory prices over the last week, with a tightening in supplies forcing plants to pay more to secure deals.

Steers have lifted 5c/kg to an average base of €4.10/kg to €4.12/kg, with larger numbers moving at a base of €4.15/kg. Heifers are trading at a base of €4.18/kg to €4.22/kg, with a higher number of farmers and those trading larger lots having success in securing €4.25/kg as the week progresses.

There is significant variability between plants and regions. Some of the ABP group plants continue to quote a base of €4.05/kg for steers and €4.15/kg for heifers.

Sellers are voicing their frustration, pointing to the group’s own feedlot cattle and cattle purchased on contract or producer group arrangements receiving preferential processing and pricing. There was also frustration voiced at Tuesday night’s beef meeting in Wexford about the difference in prices paid to local producers supplying Slaney Foods and those from further afield.

There is also a wide range in flat prices. O grading, quality assured (QA) heifers are trading from €4.10/kg to €4.20/kg, with the top flat prices paid rising to €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg for Angus and Hereford heifers.

Flat prices paid early in the week for O grading Friesian steers ranged from €3.90/kg to €4.05/kg. There has also been upward movement, with flat prices of €4.10/kg reported for large lots.

IFA’s Henry Burns said: “A tightening in supplies is leaving factories struggling to get numbers. A base of €4.20/kg is being paid for steers and €4.30/kg for heifers, with average prices of €4.20/kg for steers and €4.25/kg for heifers.”

5c/kg bull lift: Bull prices have recovered and lifted by an average of 5c/kg. R and U grading bulls are trading from €4.15/kg to €4.20/kg, with some producers securing a flat price of €4.20/kg for groups including mainly U grade bulls.

Friesian bulls are trading from €3.90/kg to €4.00/kg, with larger numbers moving for €4.05/kg. Under 16-month-old bulls trading on the grid are moving at a base of €3.95/kg to €4.05/kg, with demand best for bulls killing under 400kg carcase weight.

Solid cow trade: The cow trade remains firm. P+3 grading cows are trading at the lower end of the market from €3.20/kg for plants not active in the cow trade to €3.50/kg for mixed P+3 and O grading cows. O grading cows are selling from €3.50/kg to €3.65/kg, with R grades from €3.70/kg to €3.85/kg for larger lots. U grading cows are moving from €3.80/kg to €3.90/kg, with large-framed and some pedigree cows reaching €4.00/kg.

Weaker NI trade: The beef trade has slipped again in the North. Quotes for early in the week fell to £3.10/kg to £3.20/kg for a U3- steer or the equivalent of €4.55/kg to €4.70/kg. The number of cattle exported north for direct slaughter remains steady at about 500 head.