This week’s factory quotes sees a steady trade again for beef cattle, with most outlets holding their price offerings at the same levels as last week.
Ploughing 2024 is set to kick off in Ratheniska, Co. Laois, next Tuesday, September 17 to Thursday, September 19, and beef price quotes are at least 35c/kg above this time last year.
Despite this year’s challenges with regards to weather conditions and costs on farms, the mood remains relatively positive among beef farmers heading into winter 2024/25.
Factory Quotes: Heifers and steers
Heifers are being quoted at €5.05/kg on the grid again this week with up to €5.15/kg on the grid available at the higher-end of the price scale for eligible heifers with 300-400kg carcass weights.
Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €5.00/kg on the grid in general, with up to €5.10/kg available for eligible steers with 300-400kg carcass weights.
Some outlets have moved to take 5c/kg off their steer and heifer offerings this week, bringing their steer offering to €4.95/kg and their heifer offering to €5.00/kg, but most other outlets across the country remain 5c/kg or more above this.
Cows
Cow price offerings have remained steady overall again this week despite some talk of reductions in P grade cow price offers.
Price quotes for fleshed P grade cows range from €4.30-4.40/kg with €4.40-4.50/kg being quoted for O grade cows.
€4.70-4.80/kg is being quoted for R grade cows and €5.00-5.10/kg is being quoted for U grade cows.
The table below details the weighted average prices paid for cows by grade in the week ending Sunday, September 1, in c/kg including vat:
Fat score E U R O P Weighted avg. 1 – 490 488 416 312 320 2 – 503 488 454 421 431 3 – 501 487 456 442 453 4 – 495 481 456 444 460 5 – 520 472 453 420 463 Weighted avg. – 498 484 455 409 433
The table above shows the variation in cow prices – even within grade and some processors are stronger on price for certain grades of cows than others.
Bulls
Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €5.25 for U grades and €5.15/kg for R grades. €4.95-5.05/kg is being quoted for O grade bulls and P grade bulls are being quoted at €4.80-4.90/kg.
Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €5.00/kg on the grid, generally speaking.
Factory cattle supply numbers have been increasing in recent weeks but prices have continued to hold steady despite the rise in supplies.
Some procurement staff have noted a rise in the number of over 30 month cattle arriving at factory lairages this month saying “these cattle are causing a significant issue” for processors.