With the factory kill falling below 30,000 head last week and down 10,000 on the same week last year, farmers are in the driving seat for beef price negotiations.
The cattle kill so far this year is down 159,385 head to the end of last week compared with the same period last year. The weekly kill has only crossed 30,000 once since the beginning of May.
Quotes haven’t risen as spectacularly as they have done over previous weeks, but they are still increasing.
The starting point for bullock quotes this week is €7.50/kg and €7.60/kg for heifers, but 10c/kg more is often available and, in some cases, 20c/kg more for heifers is being offered.
There is also plenty of flat-rate buying with €8/kg being regularly mentioned for continental-grade cattle.
The trade for cows is arguably stronger, with plain cows in particular in demand. As a result, P+3 grades are being quoted €7/kg to €7.10/kg, with better quality cows increasing to at least €7.60/kg for top U grades.
The mart trade for cows is especially buoyant, with reports that €8/kg would be needed at the factory to match what is being paid in marts for the top quality cows.
Northern Ireland
It is a case of stand on for quotes in Northern Ireland this week, with U-3 quotes ranging between £6.56/kg and £6.58/kg which converts to between €7.83/kg and €7.86/kg when VAT is included.
Prices continue to increase in Britain, with the average steer price up 3.3p/kg (almost 4c/kg), heifers up 2p/kg (2.2c/kg) and cow prices were 8.1p/kg (9.2c/kg) higher last week.
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