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There has been no significant change in the beef trade over the last week.
Most steers continue to trade on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with a small number of deals at the top of the market completed at a 3c/kg to 5c/kg higher base.
Heifers are trading on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg, with more scope in many plants to secure the higher price than there is for steers.
At the very top of the market, there are select deals being completed at a base of €3.92/kg to €3.95/kg.
Bulls
The bull trade is also unchanged, with the significant difference in price that existed in previous weeks continuing.
R and U grade bulls are trading in small numbers at €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg and €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg respectively.
Specialist finishers are commanding a 5c/kg to 10c/kg premium, while bulls less than 16 months old and trading on the grid are selling on a base of €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg.
Cows
The cow trade remains vibrant in mart sales, with heavy fleshed cows particularly in demand. P+3 grading lots continue to trade in the main from €3.10/kg to €3.20/kg, with fleshed O grades to €3.35/kg.
Plants most active in the cow trade are paying regular suppliers 5c/kg to 10c/kg more, with R grades selling in general from €3.35/kg to €3.45/kg but rising as high as €3.55/kg. Likewise, U grades are selling from €3.55/kg to €3.65/kg.
British prices ease 1p/kg
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) reports that British beef prices have eased on average by 1p/kg to 2p/kg.
R4L steers are reported as selling at £3.86/kg, with heifers 1p/kg lower. Sterling weakened slightly to 88.4p/kg on Monday evening, which puts the British price at the equivalent of €4.59/kg to €4.60/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Cow prices are steady, with O4L grading cows selling on average for £2.77/kg or the equivalent of €3.30/kg.
Northern Irish prices remain firm after last week’s strengthening.
U-3 base quotes range from £3.48/kg (€4.15/kg) at the bottom of the market to £3.54/kg (€4.22/kg), with regular sellers trading at the top of the market securing prices rising into the high £3.50s.
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