This week's factory quotes for beef cattle have seen factory price offerings to farmers for cattle increase by up to a further 30c/kg from last Monday (March 24).

One outlet has given early soundings to Agriland this week of the trade beginning to steady while others have said there is 'no sign of any let up' in the roaring beef trade currently being experienced.

While some outlets may look to steady off the rising prices, the drop in supplies of finished cattle forecast to materialise over the coming weeks will see factories have to compete to retain their percentage of the national kill, which could potentially cause further supply-led prices rises.

This year commenced with price quotes of €5.60/kg on the grid for bullocks (steers) and, 14 weeks later, prices of €7.50/kg on the grid and above are freely available for steers.

This rise of €1.90/kg in price quotes since the beginning of the year is substantial and has never been seen in living memory in the Irish beef trade over such a short space of time.

This week, heifers are being quoted at €7.50-7.60/kg on the grid, with steers being quoted at prices ranging from €7.40-7.50/kg on the grid.

Most procurement staff are admitting that 'all in' prices of up to €8.00/kg are being paid for choice lots of prime cattle.

At the top-end of the trade, factory agents have told Agriland that all-in price agreements of €8.30-8.40/kg have been agreed for prime cattle, and the current mart prices for forward-type beef cattle would equate to factory prices at this level and above in cases.

Sample mart prices for bullocks from Carnaross Mart today:

582kg Angus bullock €2,560 or €4.40/kg;
505kg Angus bullock €2,190 or €4.34/kg;
500kg Hereford bullock €2,140 or €4.28/kg;
576kg Hereford bullock €2,330 or €4.05/kg.

Assuming some of these heavier-type bullocks were purchased by factory agents, based on a 50% kill-out percentage, these would equate to factory prices of €8.80/kg before mart fees or haulage is taken into account.

Cows are being quoted at up to €7.50/kg for U-grades with R-grade cows being quoted at up to €7.30/kg.

'O' and 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €6.90 and €7.00/kg respectively this week.

Click here to see the average prices paid for cows by grade and factory in the week ending Sunday, March 23.

Flat-price deals are widely available for cows at most of the strong cow-buying outlets with prices above these rates available in several cases.

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €7.70-7.80/kg for U-grades with €7.60-7.70/kg being quoted for R-grade bulls. €7.50 and €7.40/kg is being quoted for 'O' and 'P' grade bulls respectively.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €7.40/kg on the grid.

Again, many farmers are managing to secure flat price deals for bulls at levels above the quoted prices for this week.