This week’s factory quotes sees beef price offerings on the rise again as the last full-week beef kill of the year gets underway.
Most factories have five full-day kills scheduled for this week with some killing two days and others killing three days next week and four days the following week.
The prices being paid to farmers have been on the rise since mid October and prime cattle prices are currently at record highs.
Despite concerns on finished cattle supplies, kill numbers have been holding steady with between 39,000 and 40,000 cattle slaughtered/week in the past four consecutive weeks.
Factory quotes: Heifers and steers
Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €5.50/kg on the grid this week with €5.55/kg on the grid being quoted for heifers.
Most outlets have kill sheets as good as filled from now until the year end with pre-booked cattle.
The current strong beef trade has brought extra cattle out earlier than usual and some procurement staff have expressed concerns regarding finished cattle supplies for the first quarter of 2025.
Current market indications suggest a continued firm beef trade into the opening few weeks of 2025 at least.
Cow price
Some procurement managers have said that approximately half of their total weekly cow kills are composed of light cows below 270kg carcass weight and cows with fat scores below a 2+.
The table below details the weighted average prices in c/kg including VAT paid for cows in the week ending Sunday, December 8:
Fat score E U R O P Weighted Average 1 – 545 514 467 392 397 2 – 536 529 493 458 467 3 – 542 528 496 475 493 4 – 539 524 497 481 504 5 – 550 520 494 485 511 Weighted Average: – 541 526 495 443 467
As the table above indicates, there is almost a 95c/kg variation in prices paid for P1 and P5 cows.
U grade cows are being quoted at up to €5.50/kg this week with €5.30/kg quoted for R grade cows. O grade cows are being quoted at €4.85/kg in general but price offerings are ranging from €4.80-5.20/kg and P grade cows are being quoted at €4.75/kg in general but price offerings are ranging from €4.70-5.00/kg.
Click here to see prices paid for cows by grade and factory in the week ending Sunday, December 8.
Bulls
Under-24-month-bulls are being quoted at €5.70-5.80/kg for U grades with €5.60-5.70/kg being quoted for R grade bulls. O grade bulls are being quoted at €5.60/kg and P grade bulls are being quoted at €5.50/kg.
There is plenty of variation in bull prices being paid to farmers with regular suppliers managing to secure higher rates.
Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €5.50/kg on the grid in general.