This week's factory quotes for beef cattle see the lower price offers from last week taken off the table for this week as lower price rates have failed to set into the trade.

The number of spaces in weekly kill sheets has increased at most sites as kill numbers have been gradually increasing over the past eight weeks.

With the first day of September arriving tomorrow (Tuesday), factories are looking at their annual throughput numbers to date this year and most are well below this time last year.

Procurement staff are more open to discussing deals where choice lots of prime, in-spec cattle are avaliable.

Outlets are keen to increase throughput numbers into the final quarter of the year.

With the ban of Brazilian beef imports to the EU commencing this week on Thursday, September 3, the autumn beef trade is looking somewhat more positive from an Irish beef farmers' perspective.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.50-€6.55/kg on the grid.

The lower offers of €6.40/kg on the grid from last week have been taken off the table for this week.

Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €6.40/kg on the grid, with the €6.30/kg offers from last week seeming to have failed to set into the trade.

€6.50/kg on the grid is available in the north-west for in-spec steers with 300-400kg carcass-weights.

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

Angus and Hereford breed bonus eligibility changes are set to be introduced at ABP and Kepak sites next week from Monday, September 7.

Cow price

Price differentials between outlets seem to have narrowed this week with the lower offers having to rise rather than the higher offers falling.

'P' grade cows are being quoted at €5.80-€5.90/kg this week with short-fleshed, lighter and plainer 'P' grade cows being priced at less.

'O' grade cows are being quoted at €6.00/kg with €6.10/kg available for the better-type heavy, fleshed 'O+' cows.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.20/kg. 'U' grade cows are being quoted at €6.30/kg, with some outlets offering €6.40/kg for 'U' grade cows.

As always, heavy fleshed cows scoring a '3' or above in flesh and with a carcass-weight above 270kg will qualify for higher price rates, while plainer, lighter, short-fleshed cows will be priced at lower rates.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.70/kg for 'U' grades, with €6.60/kg tabled for 'R' grade bulls again this week.

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

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.40/kg on the grid.