This week's factory quotes have seen beef price offers hold steady with most outlets opening their beef price offers for this week at the same level as last week.

Beef prices had been under some pressure for the past few weeks with prime cattle price offers cut last week but prices have remained firm this week.

Procurement staff are noticing plenty of overage cattle available currently and remain particularly keen to secure in-spec, prime heifers and steers for these Christmas orders.

Factory Quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are being quoted at €6.60-6.65/kg on the grid respectively and up to €6.70/kg on the grid is being tabled in some cases.

Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €6.50-6.55/kg on the grid with up to €6.60/kg tabled in cases.

In-spec Angus and Hereford cattle also remain in particularly good demand with breed bonuses of 20c/kg and 10c/kg respectively available - and more in some cases.

Cows

The cow trade has also steadied with price offers at the same level as early last week and more money than the opening price offers available for cows in some cases this week.

'P' grade cows are being quoted at €5.80-5.90/kg and 'O' grade cows are being quoted at €5.90-6.00/kg.

Some of the stronger cow-buying outlets are paying €6.00/kg and €6.10/kg for good 'P' and 'O' grade cows respectively this week.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.20-6.30/kg and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at €6.40-6.50/kg.

Bulls

Up to €7.00/kg is being paid this week to specialist bull finishers for top choice lots of bulls.

Despite this, opening offers are running lower than this. Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.70-€6.80/kg for 'U' grades and €6.60-6.70/kg for 'R' grades.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.40-€6.50/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.30-€6.40/kg.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.50-€6.60/kg on the grid.