Greater activity in the beef trade, on the back of tight supplies, continues to be the standout feature in the beef trade. Agents are working hard to retain their market share and fend off the interest of competing buyers, many of which are now looking to source cattle from outside their normal catchment area.

It is hard to say prices have risen across the board. Plants with a lower supply network are in many cases offering higher prices while others are digging in hard and are prepared to risk losing out on deals of small numbers rather than offer more. This has led to a differential opening up in the market with steers selling of a base ranging from €3.95/kg at the lower end of the scale to €4.05/kg paid at the upper end to frequent sellers or for large-sized groups.

Similarly, heifers are trading of a base ranging from €4.05/kg to €4.15/kg with a significant number now trading from €4.08/kg to €4.10/kg. Flat priced deals have also moved on 3c/kg to 5c/kg from last week’s levels, ranging from €3.85/kg to €3.95/kg for large lots of quality assured Friesian steers under 30 months of age. Angus and Hereford heifers are selling from €4.05/kg to €4.20/kg with the higher prices paid for O=/+ Angus types.

Numbers dictating

The number of cows on offer in a sale group continues to have a large bearing on prices paid. O grading cows are trading anywhere from €3.20/kg for small numbers of fleshed Friesian cows to €3.40/kg at the top end of the market for fleshed Friesian and suckler cows. R grade cows are trading from €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg with some of the larger feeders securing a flat price of €3.70/kg for mixed lots of R/U grading cows traded in significant group sizes.

Bulls break €4.00/kg

Specialised finishers with greater negotiating power have pushed R and U grading bulls over the €4.00/kg mark, selling from €4.00/kg to €4.10/kg. While penalties are being lowered or waived for heavier carcase animals, the best prices on offer tend to be for lighter carcase weight bulls under 420kg. Friesian bulls are selling from €3.80/kg to €3.90/kg for O=/+ animals with R grades to €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg. Bulls under 16 months and traded on the grid are moving at a base of €4.00/kg in the main.

NI trade lifting

Tightening supplies are slowly starting to lift a depressed Northern Irish trade with sellers sensing greater selling power and refusing to move at the lower quotes. Many plants have cattle purchased for tomorrow morning’s kill at a U-3 base of £3.04/kg to £3.06/kg (equivalent €4.12/kg including VAT) with regular sellers getting 4p/kg to 6p/kg higher. However, it has become more apparent over the weekend that factory agents will have to rise quotes to stay in the mix and encourage finishers to part with a reducing supply of slaughter-fit stock.