This week's factory quotes for beef cattle sees opening base price offers up by 10c/kg and more in some cases since last Monday (September 28).

Procurement staff have a little more flexibility to pay more for good, fleshed prime suckler-bred stock and move off grid pricing also - in particular where a batch of cattle may contain a few 'O-' and 'P' grading bullocks.

Cow prices are also more positive this week versus last Monday with good deals being secured for mixed batches of fleshed 'O' and 'P' grading cows and bulls remain in good demand at the factories that traditionally have good market outlets for bull beef.

Some procurement staff have said more cattle are coming available this week and some outlets remain more anxious for cattle than others, but overall processor demand appears to be remaining more than able to soak up current cattle availability.

Other factory agents have said they expect the beef trade to remain "good" for the next three weeks at least, a time when most beef farmers with forward-type cattle will be determining if they will move cattle to the factory, the mart, or the shed.

The large autumn sales of cattle at marts around the country are well underway and one of the big talking points are the strong prices beef farmers are paying for forward store cattle.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.70-€6.80/kg on the grid, with up to €6.85/kg base tabled for choice lots of prime heifers.

Steers (bullocks) are generally being quoted at €6.60-€6.70/kg on the grid.

Breed bonuses of 20c/kg and 15c/kg are available for eligible Angus and Hereford cattle respectively.

Procurement staff are agreeing to put a minimum price on any lower-grading stock on the batches of cattle in some cases.

Some outlets are saying that the higher beef prices being paid are coming off factory margins rather than from the market place but no outlet has given any real indication of imminent beef price cuts.

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

Cow price

There is more variation between outlets on cow price offers this week.

Offers for 'P' grade cows scoring a '3' or above in fat score with a carcass-weight of over 270kg are at €6.20/kg but up to €6.30/kg has been tabled for good, mixed batches of 'P' and 'O' grade cows.

Other outlets are working off €6.10/kg for 'P' grade cows and €6.20/kg for 'O' grade cows 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 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.