This week's factory quotes have seen beef price offers increase again, but industry sources have warned of "casualties" in the form of potential losses of smaller processing sites amid the current tight cattle supplies.

These concerns have also been echoed in the mart industry, with some smaller mart outlets also fearing for their future viability amidst the reducing numbers of beef cattle.

One factory procurement staff member told Agriland this morning (Monday, July 13) that trade "is up in the air".

He said that the current low weekly kill numbers are unsustainable and that "there will be casualties" in the form of the loss of smaller processing outlets if low kill numbers continue.

Factory cattle supply numbers are expected to increase again later in the final half of this year, but will not recover to 2024 supply levels.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.60-€6.70/kg on the grid and steers are generally being quoted at €6.50-€6.60/kg on the grid.

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

In some cases, farmers with choice lots of prime cattle have managed to book cattle in for this week at prices above these offers and flat-price deals as well as many other farmer-friendly bargaining tools are being deployed to secure cattle purchases.

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

Flat price offers are being tabled for batches of cattle including in-spec Angus and Hereford stock.

Cow price

Cow price offers are also seeing continued positivity with continued firm demand for cull cow beef apparent.

Up to €6.20/kg has been tabled for better-type fleshed 'P' grade cows this week, with €6.10/kg tabled for plainer-type 'P3' grade cows.

'O' grade cows are being quoted at €6.30/kg for the better-type 'O+' stock, with €6.10-€6.20/kg tabled for the plainer-type 'O' grade cows.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.50/kg this week and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at €6.60/kg.

Some choice lots of fleshed cows and regular cow suppliers are managing to secure higher rates than the official quotes for cows this week.

Click here to see the latest official factory cow price data.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at up to €6.90/kg for 'U' grades at the higher end of the scale, with other outlets tabling €6.80/kg.

'R' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.80/kg with lower offers of €6.70/kg also common.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.60-€6.70/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.40-€6.50/kg.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.50/kg on the grid in general this week with higher prices available in certain cases.