Prices for cattle offered by beef processors in the last week have appeared to hold steady or increase in the last week.

Farmer representatives in the sector have noted continued positivity in the trade, with some variation in prices reported but with a common view that factories are not slack i seeking out cattle at the moment.

Declan Hanrahan, the Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA's) national livestock chairperson, told Agriland that he was aware of famers being quoted €6.70-€6.90/kg for steers, and €6.80-€7.00/kg for heifers.

This compares to quotes of around €6.60-€6.70/kg for steers and €6.70-€6.80 for heifers the previous week.

Hanrahan added that flat prices of €7.20-€7.30, and base prices of €6.90 for steers, have been offered in some cases, saying that factories are "very active" for cattle.

He said the trade has strengthened and that the processors are "eager for cattle".

He noted that prices have increased by around 40c/kg since the onset of the EU's ban on beef from Brazil.

Meanwhile, the IFA livestock chair noted that bulls were going for in around €7.00/kg in some cases, or around €7.10 for 'R' and 'U' grades.

He added that cows were getting between €6.10 and €6.60/kg.

Hanrahan said prices were being supported by good demand, scarcity of cattle, and rising prices in the UK.

Factories "anxious enough" for cattle

The livestock chairperson for the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA), Michael O'Connell noted prices for the week gone that were more in line with the previous week.

However, he said that factories were often giving more than they were quoting, and that trade at the moment is "good enough".

According to O'Connell, bulls were sitting at €6.60-€6.70/kg, while heifers were getting €6.70-€6.80/kg, with higher prices available depending on specifications.

He said that cows were somewhere between €6.10/kg for 'O' or 'P' grades, to €6.40 for 'R' grades.

O'Connell said that factories are probably trying to avoid "the same scenario as last year", in which prices went up quickly before falling quickly.

He said that factories appear "anxious enough" for cattle with the Christmas period approaching.