This week's factory quotes see prime cattle price offers up 20c/kg in some cases since last Monday (September 21), as 'all-in' prime cattle beef prices move up towards €7.00/kg once again.

Demand for beef has increased considerably into September, which is good news for farmers with finished cattle to sell coming off grass but makes the job of buying in store cattle for winter finishing more challenging.

Procurement staff are generally keen for cattle to fill out kill sheets and weekly beef kill numbers are running well above this time last year.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.60-€6.70/kg on the grid, with up to €6.75/kg base tabled for choice lots of prime heifers.

Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €6.50-€6.60/kg on the grid, with up to €6.70/kg available in the north-west for prime bullocks.

Trade is on the rise this week and outlets tabling the lower beef price offers this morning (Monday, September 28) are having to move their offers up to secure any significant entries of cattle.

All-in flat price offers of €7.00/kg have been tabled this morning for batches of prime Hereford and Angus cattle.

Despite the current trade positivity, factory procurement staff are warning that the beef trade is still somewhat "soft" overall and renewed their warnings of caution to farmers on the current rising store cattle trade.

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

Cow price

Fleshed cows from a 'P' grade upwards scoring a '3' or above in fat score with a carcass-weight of over 270kg are being quoted at €6.10/kg.

'O' grade cows are being quoted at €6.20-€6.30/kg at most of the stronger cow buying outlets this week.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.40/kg, and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at premiums of up to €6.60/kg.

Some regular suppliers are managing to secure higher rates for choice lots of cows at specific outlet locations with more scope for price discussion in the current rising trade.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.80/kg for 'U' grades, with €6.70/kg tabled for 'R' grade bulls this week.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.50/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.40/kg.

In some cases, fleshed bulls are managing to secure rates above these opening price offers.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.50-€6.60/kg on the grid.