After a number of weeks of continued negativity from factories, there are some positive indicators in the beef trade this week.

Factory agents are back on the hunt for cattle again.

A number of processors have moved up their quotes on Monday with more standing on at last week’s quotes.

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Heifers have moved up to €7.20/kg in some locations, a base price on the table of €7.10/kg for bullocks in the same factories.

Most processors remain on a base price of €7/kg for bullocks and €7.10/kg for heifers, with more available to bigger suppliers and regular customers.

One farmer, who had killed cattle the week before Christmas in-factory in the east, had been told in no uncertain terms to not arrive back with anything until the end of January.

He told the Irish Farmers Journal last week that the same agent was ringing last Thursday to see if he could bring a load of cattle in on Monday.

That appears to be the sentiment in a number of locations with agents anxious for cattle.

Cow trade

The cow trade has also steadied, with R grading cows being priced at €6.80/kg to €6.90/kg.

U grading cows are still trading at €7/kg to €7.10/kg, while O grading cows are being bought for €6.60/kg to €6.70/kg. P+3 cows are back a little further, with some factories trying to purchase P+3 cows at €6.20/kg to €6.30/kg.

Bulls

Bulls have probably held the best out of all categories of stock, with R grading bulls still coming in at €7.25/kg and U grading bulls at €7.40/kg.

Specialised bull finishers have been able to squeeze a little more out of some processors.

Under-16-month bulls are working off a €7/kg to €7.10/kg base price to go on the grid.

The mart trade for heavy cattle has also taken a lift in the last few days.

Central Auctions in Roscrea held its annual fat stock show and sale last Friday with big demand for finished cattle.

The top third of heifers in the sale in the 600kg+ weight category exceeded €5/kg with the average price of 600kg+ heifers coming in at over €4.50/kg.

Friday’s mart returns in Roscrea would far exceed factory returns at the moment with €8/kg needed to break even on some of the cattle purchased by factory agents.