Prices hold as throughput increases

The beef trade remains steady this week as factory throughput continued the upward trend of recent weeks.

While factories have been talking about paying less, quotes for next week remain similar to this week.

This means offers for steers between €6.40/kg to €6.50/kg with heifers being quoted at €6.50/kg to €6.60/kg.

Drought in the south and east is pushing the cow kill higher with almost 6,500 through the factories last week, 1,855 more than in the same week last year.

Prices are holding up, with good suckler-bred cows making up to €6.40/kg, plainer P-grades are being offered between €5.80/kg and €5.90/kg

Northern Ireland prices fell last week with U3 steer prices reported for EU spec dressing were £6.02/kg, (€7.40/kg when flat rate VAT is added).