Factories have steadied up on beef quotes being issued this week, with a lot of agents remaining on the same quotes as where they left off at last week.
Bullocks are working off a base price of €6.60/kg, with heifers working off a base price of €6.70/kg.
There are factories trying to quote lower, but when the push comes to shove, they are paying out at last week’s quotes.
A number of agents are even a little more anxious this week for supplies compared with last week.
There continues to be a 20c/kg bonus available on top of base prices for in-spec Aberdeen Angus bullocks and heifers.
Bulls
Bulls are also solid this week, with under-24-month U grading bulls coming in at €6.70/kg to €6.90/kg, with R grading bulls being bought at €6.60/kg to €6.70/kg.
Under-16-month bulls are working off a base price of €6.60/kg to €6.70/kg.
Cows
U grading cows have firmed up, with €6.40/kg to €6.50/kg now on the table for well-fleshed heavy U grading cows.
R grading cows are being bought at €6.20/kg to €6.40/kg. O grading cows are working off a quote of €6.10/kg to €6.20/kg this week, with P+3 cows coming in at €6.00/kg to €6.10/kg, depending on weight and flesh cover.
Irish Farmers' Association livestock chair Declan Hanrahan has hit out at factories for their attempts to drop beef prices last week.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, he said: “Markets were never stronger, with Brazilian beef out of the EU market since September. This is creating real opportunities for Irish beef.
"The UK beef price increased by a further 4p/kg in the last week and is currently running 93c/kg above our prices or over €370 on a 400kg carcase.
"Farmers should not be misled by factories and their agents talking down beef prices. They have taken advantage of the strong numbers in recent weeks, but this is coming to an end.”
