This week's factory quotes have seen prices move up once again with the top-end of the trade seeing 'all-in' prices edge closer to €8.00/kg for better-types of Angus cattle.

At the top-end of the trade, prices of €7.50/kg are being offered for better-types of bulls and €7.20/kg for U-grade cows.

Base prices have moved up by as much as 20c/kg again this week in cases with most outlets opening negotiations for heifers and steers (bullocks) at prices above €7.00/kg with some factory agents reporting base prices as high as €7.40/kg being tabled this week.

Speaking at a Teagasc beef farm walk last Friday (March 21) on the farm of Sean and Eamon Power in Freshford, Co. Kilkenny, Kepak Group's Robert Cole said he believes that "if prime cattle get scare, which I see happening in mid-April, there could be a bit of a dogfight out there" between processors to secure cattle.

This week, heifers are being quoted at €7.20-7.30/kg on the grid with steers being quoted at €7.10-7.20/kg on the grid.

At a base price of €7.20/kg on the grid, the 'all-in' price would be €7.90/kg for in-spec R-grade Angus cattle at certain outlets when Quality Assurance (QA), breed and processor sustainability bonuses are added in.

Conversations with procurement staff would indicate there are no immediate threats obvious to cattle prices for the short term at least and, with a supply scarcity forecast, many signals would point to a continued strengthening in beef price.

Up to €7.20/kg is being tabled for U-grade cows with prices ranging from €6.90-7.10/kg quoted for R grade cows.

O- and P-grade cows are being quoted at €6.70 and €6.60/kg respectively with more money being paid in several cases for batches of cows.

Click here to see the average prices paid for cows by grade and fat score on a factory-by-factory bases for the week ending Sunday, March 16.

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €7.40-7.50/kg for U-grades with €7.30-7.40/kg being quoted for R-grade bulls.

O-grade bulls are being quoted at €7.10-7.20/kg with P grade bulls being quoted at 7.00-7.10/kg.

Some farmers are managing to secure more from the market for batches of well-finished bulls.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted €7.10/kg on the grid.