Protests continue to dominate beef trade discussions. The situation varies greatly between plants, with some unable to get any stock in for slaughter and ceasing trading for another day.
Some plants are processing at greatly curtailed throughput, while plants unaffected by protests are said to be working to capacity.
Ground conditions deteriorate
Some of these plants say the rapid deterioration in ground conditions in the northwest and west is bringing more cattle on to the market, with the 30-month age limit also said to be pushing some sellers to trade.
In contrast, ground conditions are relatively good in the east and southeast, with less pressure on to move stock.
Prices unchanged
Prices are unchanged, with steers ranging from a base of €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg, while heifers are trading on average from a base of €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg.
Relatively tight supplies of cows is helping to keep a floor under the trade.
P+3 grading lots range from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg on average, O grades are selling from €2.90/kg to €3.05/kg, while R grades are meeting a similarly wide differential, selling from €3.05/kg to €3.20/kg.
Mart trade
The mart trade remains a good alternative for sellers with low numbers who are struggling to get cows moved at the higher prices.
Bulls are static, with R grades ranging 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. This excludes producer bonuses.
Friesian bulls remain a challenging trade, with O grading bulls selling from €3.15/kg to €3.35/kg.
Northern trade
Torrential rainfall in many parts of the North over the weekend is also seeing more producers looking to move cattle this week.
This is reducing competition, with prices, in cases, easing by 2p/kg.
The general U-3 base quote reported is £3.20/kg to £3.22/kg or €3.52/kg to €3.54/kg at 90.9p to the euro and €3.71/kg to €3.73/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Sellers competing at the top of the market have weakened negotiating power with the rise in numbers, with top returns curtailed at 4p/kg to 6p/kg higher.
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