Beef quotes have continued their downward trend this week with another 10 cent/kg coming off quotes in a lot of factories on Monday.

There are some instances of cattle being bought at last week’s quotes where contact had been made at the end of last week and there were some delays in getting the cattle killed.

Other factories are taking a different approach and taking bookings of cattle but won’t agree a price until nearer the time that cattle are going for slaughter.

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Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal one midlands-based finisher said: “When you order diesel they won’t tell you the price you have to pay until the day they deliver it and the factories are now doing the same with the cattle. They won’t put a price on them until they are going and I’ve been waiting for 7-10 days to get cattle killed for the last two weeks.”

Bullocks have dropped back to €6.60/kg base price with heifers now moving at €6.70/kg, also a drop of 10 cent/kg on last week’s quotes.

Regular suppliers

Foyle Meats in Donegal is working off a base price of €6.75/kg for bullocks and €6.85/kg for heifers killing out between 300-400kg but there is still a wait to get cattle killed. Regular suppliers and those dealing in numbers are still working off 20-30 cent/kg more with contract finishers also working off a better price.

Cows

R grading cows are being priced at €6.30/kg to €6.40/kg.

U grading cows are now being bought at €6.70/kg, back 10c/kg in the last seven days.

O grading cows are being bought for €6.10/kg to €6.20/kg.

P+3 cows are coming in at €6.00/kg to €6.10/kg, with some factories quoting lower for very light cows.

Bulls

R grading bulls are coming in at €6.80-€6.90/kg and U grading bulls are being quoted at €7.00/kg, although bulls are in short supply, with low numbers being killed.

There are a number of operators still able to squeeze €7/kg for mixtures of R and U grading bulls.

O grading bulls are working off an all-in price of €6.50/kg to €6.70/kg, while P grading bulls are being quoted at €6.40/kg to €6.50/kg, depending on weight and flesh cover.

Under-16-month bulls are working off a €6.70/kg base price on the grid.

The Irish Farmers Journal will hold a beef finisher information meeting in the Abbeyleix Manor hotel on Monday 30 March at 7.30pm.

A number of industry stakeholders will speak at the event in relation to the current situation with beef quotes and market outlook. Everyone is welcome to attend the event.