This week’s factory quotes sees some level of positivity from a beef price perspective, despite many procurement staff saying trade is steady.
Agriland understands last week’s beef kill surpassed 40,000 head of cattle, which would be considered a large weekly kill.
This autumn has been unusual from a beef-trade perspective, in the sense that prices have held well contrary to the trend often seen at this time of year where prices often drop off as larger supplies of cattle become available off grass.
This – coupled with reasonable ground conditions (in most parts of the country) – is keeping plenty of positivity in the beef trade at present.
Factory quotes: Heifers and steers
Where price quotes of €5.05 and €5.00/kg on the grid for heifers and steers (bullocks) respectively were more common last week, price quotes of €5.10 and €5.05/kg on the grid are more common this week for heifers and steers, particularly for well-fleshed stock under 30 months of age.
At the higher-end of the price scale, €5.20 and €5.10/kg on the grid for heifers and steers respectively are expected to be paid at some sites later this week for eligible prime cattle with carcass weights ranging from 300-400kg.
Cattle born in April 2022 are now approaching the 30-month age limit.
The 30c/kg breed bonus on eligible Angus cattle pre-booked at ABP Food Group and Kepak processing sites through Certified Irish Angus kicks into the trade this week, and the 25c/kg breed bonus on eligible Hereford cattle pre-booked through Irish Hereford Prime kicks into the trade from next week.
Cow price
U grade cows are being quoted at €5.00/kg on the grid again this week with more money being paid in many cases. R grade cows are being quoted at €4.70-4.80/kg, again with more money being paid in many cases.
The table below details the weighted average prices paid for cows in c/kg including VAT for the week ending Sunday, September 29:
Fat score E U R O P Weighted Average 1 462 464 470 435 316 327 2 506 487 455 415 429 3 515 509 491 459 441 459 4 505 485 458 444 464 5 498 484 455 440 472 Weighted Average 496 505 488 457 402 436
O and P grade cows are being quoted at €4.50 and €4.40/kg respectively.
Bulls
Looking at price quotes for under-24-month bulls, U grade bulls are being quoted at €5.30/kg with €5.20/kg being quoted for R grade bulls. O grade bulls are being quoted at €5.00/kg and P grade bulls are being quoted at €4.90/kg.
Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €5.05-5.10/kg on the grid.