Beef finishers are becoming increasingly concerned at the reduction in beef quotes seen over the last three to four weeks. Quotes are back 50-60c/kg off the peak prices achieved in April.
Farmers who purchased store cattle in spring for a summer kill are now looking at heavy losses if factories persist with the downward movethat began a few weeks ago.
Bullocks are currently working off a €7.20/kg base price, while heifers are being sold at €7.30/kg base price. The cow trade remains steady, but R-grading cows have slipped under €7/kg for the first time since March of this year.
The mart trade for heavy cattle has also seen a slight slip this week, with factory agents not as strong as they have been in previous weeks. The weekly kill remains low, at just over 29,000 head.
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