The week commencing today (Monday, December 30) sees the final two days of the 2024 beef kill and the opening two days of the 2025 beef kill with factory quotes on a record high.
Most beef factories will have a four-day kill this week with no kill on New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1).
Last week, most outlets only had a two-day kill and remained closed for the three days of Christmas.
The week commencing Monday, December 16, seen a major drop off in supplies despite a full-week kill at most sites with the total weekly kill falling to just below 33,700 head – down from just under 38,500 head in the previous week.
Factory quotes: Heifers and steers
Heifers are being quoted at €5.60/kg on the grid this week in general with with €5.55/kg on the grid being quoted for steers (bullocks).
Some suppliers are managing to secure higher rates from processors but when the 20c/kg Quality Payment System (QPS) bonus is factored in to the above quotes, it leaves €5.80/kg and €5.75/kg on the grid available for heifers and steers respectively before any breed bonuses or processor-paid sustainability bonuses are factored in to prices.
Breed bonuses of up to 30c/kg remain available for in-spec Angus heifers and steers and flat-price deals are being tabled in cases for choice lots of cattle.
Cow price
U grade cows are being quoted at up to €5.50/kg in cases but offers in the region of €5.30-5.40/kg are more common.
R grade cows are being quoted at €5.20-5.30/kg with O grade cows being quoted at €5.00/kg and P grade cows being quoted at €4.90/kg in general.
Bulls
Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €5.85/kg for U grades with €5.75/kg being quoted for R grades in general.
O grade bulls are being quoted at €5.55/kg and P grade bulls are being quoted €5.45/kg.
Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €5.55/kg on the grid in general.