Factory quotes: Higher rates move up 5c/kg this week

This week’s factory quotes sees the higher beef price rates move up by 5c/kg again in another week of continued beef-price positivity.

Continued strong demand from key markets is driving current trade increases at a time when concerns are mounting regarding supplies of prime cattle for the coming four-five months.

Bord Bia expects the prime cattle kill to fall by 46,000 head in 2025 and the cow kill numbers to drop by 10,000 head also, with the overall kill for the year expected to be around the 1.69 million head mark or 4% below the forecasted 2024 beef kill.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

Heifers are being quoted at €5.35-5.40/kg on the grid this week. Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €5.30-5.35/kg on the grid in general this week.

This would leave an in-spec R-3- grade heifer with a carcass weight of 320kg coming into €5.60/kg or €1,792/head on the higher-end quotes this week before any breed or processor-paid sustainability bonuses are taken into account.

In the final full week of November last year, steers were being quoted at €4.80/kg and heifers were at €4.85/kg in the grid at the higher end of the price scale, leaving the top quotes for this week at approximately 55c/kg above late November of last year.

Cow price

U grade cows are being quoted at up to €5.30/kg at the higher-end of the price scale this week with €5.05-5.10/kg being quoted for R grade cows.

The table below lists the weighted average prices in c/kg including VAT paid for cows by grade in the week ending Sunday, November 17:

	E	U	R	O	P	Weighted Avg
1		511	491	440	363	371
2	570	516	506	478	440	453
3	551	524	509	480	461	479
4		522	509	480	463	488
5		508	504	487	460	495
Weighted avg.	557	522	508	479	425	454

€4.80/kg is being quoted for O grade cows and €4.70/kg is being quoted for P grade cows, at the higher end of the price offerings.

There is a big variation in cow prices both within grade and across outlets with some factories stronger on price for R and U grade cows and some outlets keener on price for O and P grading cows. Some outlets are also willing to pay a premium for younger cows.