This week’s factory quotes sees most outlets hold their base prices at the same level as last week, but price increases have arrived in the form of breed bonuses.
A rise in the Angus breed bonus at ABP Food Group and Kepak processing sites through Certified Irish Angus kicked in to the trade last week, and the 25c/kg breed bonus on eligible Hereford cattle pre-booked through Irish Hereford Prime kicks into the trade this week.
This week sees the first of the factories commence Christmas beef kills to fill additional orders in the weeks leading up to the festive season.
Factory quotes: Heifers and steers
Price quotes of €5.10 and €5.05/kg for heifers and steers (bullocks) respectively are setting in to the trade this week, but deals were done last week at higher base prices for suitable cattle – particularly well-fleshed heifers and steers under 30 months of age.
Cattle born in mid-April 2022 are now approaching the 30-month age limit.
At the higher-end of the price scale, €5.20 and €5.10/kg on the grid for heifers and steers are available for eligible prime cattle with carcass weights ranging from 300-400kg.
Cow price
U grade cows are being quoted at €5.00/kg on the grid again this week with more money being paid in cases. R grade cows are being quoted at €4.70-4.80/kg, again with more money being paid in many cases.
The table below details the weighted average prices paid for cows in c/kg including VAT for the week ending Sunday, October 6:
Fat score E U R O P Weighted Average 1 477 473 418 322 331 2 530 502 487 458 414 429 3 530 511 490 460 442 459 4 501 486 459 442 465 5 492 481 462 476 Weighted Average 530 506 487 458 398 432
O and P grade cows are being quoted at €4.50 and €4.40/kg respectively again this week.
Bulls
Price quotes for under-24-month bulls remain at a similar level to last week with U grade bulls being quoted at €5.30/kg and €5.20/kg being quoted for R grade bulls.
O grade bulls are being quoted at €5.00/kg and P grade bulls are being quoted at €4.90/kg.
Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €5.05-5.10/kg on the grid.