It is hard to summarise the outlook for this week’s beef trade, with protests at factory gates continuing and reducing processing activity to a very low level.

Plants continue to be affected to three varying degrees – there are a small number of plants where no protests are taking place, there are some plants where protests are taking place while still allowing cattle to pass the picket line (but numbers doing so are small), while there are a high number of plants where processing has ceased completely.

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) reported on Monday that 20 plants were blockaded, with these plants accounting for 80% of processing capacity.

No change in price

There is no change in prices offered, with surplus numbers coming on to the market.

The general run of base prices paid is averaging €3.50/kg for steers and €3.55/kg for heifers.

There are some plants offering a 5c/kg lower base for steers, while isolated deals are being reported for heifers at a base of €3.60/kg.

Cows

Cows remain unchanged at a range of €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg for P+3 grades, O grades are selling from €2.90/kg to €3.05/kg and R grades are selling anywhere from €3.05/kg to €3.20/kg.

The bull trade is also stagnant, with some plants continuing to prioritise steer and heifer throughput and having little interest in bulls.

R grades range anywhere from €3.35/kg to €3.45/kg, while U grades are selling in the main from €3.45/kg to €3.55/kg.

Meawhile, O grading bulls range from €3.15/kg at the lower end of the market to a top of €3.30/kg on average.

Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling, in general, on a base of €3.40/kg to €3.45/kg.

Read more

Live: the beef talks as they happen

Better weather and smaller entry improve prices at Balla