This week's factory quotes sees most processors move to reduce beef price offers by 10c/kg in general across the board for cattle booked in this week.

The Galway Races Summer Festival 2026 kicks off today (Monday, July 27) and is traditionally a week when farmers, particularly in the west of Ireland, attend the races.

Procurement staff often push to have kill sheets for this week pre-booked in advance, and these pre-booked cattle will likely be priced at the higher price rates from last week.

Some outlets in the north-west are holding their price offers at the same level as last week for prime cattle.

The success of Mayo in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championships will also likely see reduced cattle trade activity in this county with major celebrations expected in the county this week.

The August Bank Holiday on Monday, August 3, traditionally sees reduced demand from processors for cattle due to the four-day week but weekly kill numbers are trending well below capacity and most processors will comfortably manage the available cattle kill within four days.

Despite this, numbers of beef cattle avaliable for slaughter are expected to pick up in August and current indications point to a steady beef trade at best with declines in price offers into next month not being ruled out.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.60-€6.65/kg on the grid.

Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €6.50-€6.60/kg on the grid.

Some outlets are tabling price offers at 10c/kg below these levels but very few cattle are expected to be bought at these lower rates this week.

At least one Co. Donegal outlet has tabled €6.70/kg and €6.75/kg on the grid for in-spec steers and heifers respectively with 300-400kg carcass-weights.

The latest official prices paid by factories are avaliable to view here.

Angus breed bonuses remain at 15-20c/kg on eligible cattle in general, while Hereford breed bonuses are generally ranging from 5-10c/kg on eligible cattle.

Cow price

Cow price offers are easing this week, with the higher negotiated prices that were available last week harder to come by this week.

Other outlets are not quoting for cows this week, while some have also revised their official cow price quote downwards by 10c/kg this week.

As with the prime cattle, pre-booked cows from last week will likely manage to secure higher rates but the lower offers are expected to set into the trade.

'P' grade cows are being quoted at €6.00/kg this week in general.

'O' grade cows are being quoted at €6.10/kg with €6.20/kg tabled for the better-type 'O+' grading cows.

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

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.80/kg for 'U' grades with €6.70/kg tabled for 'R' grade bulls.

'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/kg on the grid.