This week's factory quotes for beef cattle sees up to 30c/kg taken off the peak beef price offers from a fortnight ago when prices had peaked.

Some outlets that were quoting a base price of €7.80/kg for steers (bullocks) in the week commencing Monday, April 7 are back to €7.50/kg on the grid for steers for this week, a fall of 30c/kg in two weeks.

Last week, this week, and the first week of May (in two weeks time) see most factories operate four-day kills as a result of Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the May Bank Holiday respectively, reducing the number of cattle required to fill out weekly kill sheets for three out of four consecutive weeks.

Weekly factory cattle supply numbers have been ahead of expected in the first quarter of this year, but a drop off in supplies is expected to materialise with many factory agents expecting cattle supplies to tighten from May onwards.

This week, heifers are being quoted at €7.60/kg on the grid and steers are being quoted at €7.50/kg on the grid, generally speaking.

Two weeks ago, heifers and steers were being quoted at €7.90 and €7.80/kg on the grid respectively but, in reality, most cattle were being bought at a higher flat price, reducing the severity of grid-price penalties on 'O' and 'P' grade prime cattle.

Procurement staff at several sites had kill sheets filled for this week since last week, and many of the cattle booked in for this week have carried last week's higher price rates.

Breed bonuses remain available on Angus and Hereford cattle but flat price offers are more challenging to secure.

This week, 'U' grade cows are being quoted at €7.30-7.40/kg with €7.10-7.20/kg being quoted for 'R' grade cows.

Stronger-type 'O' grade cows are being quoted at €7.00-7.10/kg with €7.00-6.90/kg being quoted for plainer-type 'O' grade cows.

'P' grade cows are being quoted at €6.60-6.70/kg at the stronger cow buying outlets this week.

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €7.70/kg and 7.60/kg for 'U' and 'R' grades bulls respectively.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.40-7.50/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.30-7.40/kg.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €7.50/kg on the grid in general this week.