The beef trade is a little more positive this week, with factory agents showing a good interest in stock for this week and next week.

Some factory agents were a little more anxious for stock last week, with some having to increase quotes by 5c when the risk of losing stock was real.

This week’s four-day week has eased that pressure, but, nevertheless, finished cattle are in demand.

Bullocks are moving at €4.80/kg to €4.85/kg, with an occasional €4.90/kg going where pressure is applied, where bigger numbers are involved or where the threat of losing the load of cattle was applied.

Heifers are generally moving at €4.90/kg, with a few €4.95/kg quotes for loads of good heifers being killed this week.

Foyle Meats, Donegal, is still out in front with its base quote of €4.90/kg for bullocks and €4.95/kg for heifers, provided both kill out between 300kg and 400kg.

Bonuses for Aberdeen Angus are ranging from 15c to 20c/kg, with the Hereford bonuses coming in at 10c/kg.

Kill figures

No big flush of grass cattle has been seen yet, with last week’s kill figure coming in at 34,211, an increase of just under 500 head on the previous week.

The bullock kill seen the biggest lift, with over 1,000 extra bullocks killed last week.

Heifers were also up slightly, with both the cow kill and young bull kill both dropping back.

Bull prices

Quotes are generally running at €4.80/kg to €4.90/kg base for under-16-month bulls this week.

Those with bigger numbers have been able to squeeze a little more out of the market.

U grading under-24-month bulls are being quoted from €4.95/kg to €5.00/kg, with R grading bulls coming in at €4.85/kg to €4.90/kg.

Cow prices

Buyers specialising in the wholesale market have been very active in marts over the last two weeks, with some exceptional prices being paid for top-quality young cows with good flesh.

Quotes this week are running at €4.80/kg for R grading cows, €4.60/kg for O grading cows and €4.30/kg to €4.45/kg for P grading cows.

Speaking to some people in the meat trade in the UK at the weekend, they said that the England women’s team winning the European Championships was a big boost for beef sales, with some big orders placed in the manufacturing trade last week in anticipation of the result.

Sporting events continue this week with the Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham, which will be another boost to demand.

The sterling exchange rate moving to 83p/€1 is also a big help to Irish processors shipping beef to England.

Irish Farmers’ Association national livestock chair Brendan Golden said cattle supplies off grass are expected to remain steady.

With cattle throughput operating very strongly in Northern Ireland, there will be an expected increase in demand for exports of forward store and finished cattle as the year progresses.

“There is room for stronger beef price returns in the market place with the Irish prime composite price at €4.82/kg now a full 19c/kg below the prime export benchmark price of €5.01/kg,” said Golden.

NI comment

While most factories have left quotes unchanged, one plant has raised its base to 430p/kg (€5.39/kg inc VAT) for U-3 grading animals.

Prices continue to trend above this level, with most steers moving around 442p/kg (€5.55/kg) and heifers on 446p/kg (€5.60/kg).

Cull cows continue to move around the 400p/kg (€5.02/kg) mark.