Price cuts placed on the beef trade in June have now been reversed, with offers lifted by 40c/kg and more in cases in the past four weeks.

This week sees the 2025 Galway Races take place, an event traditionally attended by large numbers of farmers.

There are also several factory procurement staff on annual leave for the week of the event, leaving further pressure on factory outlets to fill out kill sheets.

With reasonable weather, plenty of fodder secured in most places, and good grass growth in most parts, many farmers are under no pressure to move cattle on and are happy to hold on to their forward cattle for an extra few weeks.

Factory agents have their work cut out convincing farmers to sell forward and fit cattle this week.

There seems to be plenty of variation in prices being paid this week, with plenty of scope for farmers to strike price deals where batches of suitable cattle are presented for slaughter.

This week, the opening price offers for steers (bullocks) are generally at €7.50/kg on the grid with the opening offers for heifers at €7.60/kg on the grid.

Some farmers have told Agriland that flat-price deals of €8.00/kg all-in are being tabled by procurement staff this week for prime cattle, and higher rates are being tabled for choice lots of Angus cattle.

At €7.60/kg on the grid, an R-3- Angus heifer would be making €8.10/kg all-in where an Angus breed bonus of 30c/kg is factored in.

In the week ending Sunday, July 20, up to €7.70/kg was paid for 'U' grade cows, and while factory price offers for this week remain below this, a look at the top mart prices for fleshed, heavy cows would suggest the higher rates remain available in some cases.

This week, premiums of up to €7.50/kg is being quoted for 'U' grade cows, with up to €7.40/kg being quoted for 'R' grade cows.

'O' and 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €7.00-€6.90/kg respectively this week.

Deals are being widely secured for cows this week with scope for higher prices.

Under-24-month-bulls are being quoted at €7.80/kg for 'U' grades and €7.70/kg for 'R' grades, generally speaking.

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

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