This week’s factory prices suggest beef prices remain broadly flat across the board but there is no clear rise in official prices.
This is the third week in a row that prices have remained mostly flat after about four weeks of across-the-board cuts in beef prices.
Most outlets have reduced the base price of beef (bull) from €7.00-7.10/kg at the beginning of the year to €6.60/kg for this week with some outliers of this.
Conversations with procurement staff indicate that trade is expected to remain steady, and there is a level of optimism that positive prices will emerge in trade in the near future, but it remains to be seen whether this will materialize.
Factory Quotations: Heifers and heifers
This week, heifers (calves) are priced at €6.60/kg overall, with up to €6.70/kg on offer in the North West for heifers with a carcass weight of 300-400kg.
Heifer prices are generally quoted at €6.70/kg on the grid, with €6.75/kg being placed in the North West for heifers with a carcass weight of 300-400kg.
Angus breed bonuses are generally between 15-20c/kg on qualifying cattle, and Hereford breed bonuses are generally between 5-10c/kg on qualifying cattle.
Cow price
‘P’ grade beef cattle are priced at €6.00-6.10/kg this week.
Grade ‘O’ cows are priced at €6.10/kg, with better grade ‘O’ cows at €6.20/kg and €6.30/kg in cases.
‘R’ grade cows are being offered at €6.30-6.40/kg, ‘U’ grade cows are being offered at premiums up to €6.70/kg with other outlets priced at €6.40-6.50/kg.
Bulls
Bulls under 24 months old are priced at €6.80-6.90/kg for “U” grades. Grade “R” bulls are generally priced at €6.70-6.80/kg.
“O” grade bulls are priced at around €6.50/kg, while “P” grade bulls are priced at around €6.40/kg.
Bulls under 16 months old are priced at €6.60/kg on the grid again this week.
