The beef trade has taken a dip this week, with factories applying a 10c/kg cut to prime cattle.

Bullocks are working off a €7.40/kg base price, with heifers coming back by 10c/kg also to €7.50/kg base price.

Weather has played into factories' hands, with a flush of cattle coming their way last week.

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That has meant some cattle that were booked in last week have been shifted to this week and that has left the demand a little lower than normal.

With factories only killing two or three days in some locations, it doesn’t take a lot of cattle to tip the supply balance.

The current situation is expected to correct itself inside a couple of weeks and cattle are expected to return to tighter supplies in the run-up to Christmas.

Bonuses

Where there are numbers of good-quality cattle coming from regular customers, deals are being done for 10c above the base quote.

Breed bonuses of 30c/kg are still available for in-spec Aberdeen Angus bullocks and heifers. Flat prices are still on the table, with €7.90/kg reported being paid for in-spec Aberdeen Angus heifers this week.

Cows have also taken a hit, with most cow types back 20c to 30c/kg this week.

P+3 cows are coming in at €6.70/kg to €6.80/kg. Good O grade with flesh are still making €6.80/kg to 6.90/kg, with quality R grading cows coming in at €7.00/kg and a little above it in some locations.

The run-up to Christmas always sees demand drop a little for cows, as processors concentrate on prime beef.

The trade in young bulls is also back this week. The going rate being offered for R and U grades is in the region of €7.60/kg to €7.70/kg, while P and O grading bulls are coming in at €7.32/kg to €7.40/kg.