This week's factory quotes for beef cattle have increased significantly on the back of the current scarcity of finished cattle available for slaughter.

Procurement staff are saying there is no major uplift in demand for beef, but cattle are needed to keep factory lines running and the reduced availability is the key driver pushing price offers up.

Some outlets have lifted their price offers by as much as 30c/kg since last Monday and there is currently significant variation in beef prices between outlets.

There are anecdotal reports circulating of up to €8.00/kg base price offers tabled to farmers for batches of prime cattle this week, but procurement bosses are opening their official offers below this level.

Official quotes are starting the week off at €7.40-€7.50/kg on the grid for steers (bullocks) and €7.50-€7.60/kg on the grid for heifers.

Several factory procurement staff have admitted base prices significantly above these levels are available this week.

Increased breed bonuses of 25-30c/kg are being tabled for eligible Hereford and Angus cattle respectively this week.

There is also more scope for negotiation on flat price offers and price agreements this week, due to the tight supply of cattle.

Factories are starting the week off quoting €6.70-€6.80/kg for 'P' grade cows with €6.90-€7.00/kg being tabled for 'O' grade cows.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €7.20 and 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €7.30/kg.

Premiums are available for choice lots of cows, with Ashbourne Meats paying €7.50/kg for ‘U’ grade cows for the month of July following its cow carcass competition.

There are also premiums being paid at other outlets for choice lots of cows of all grades, as factories remain anxious for cow beef.

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €7.70-€7.80/kg for 'U' grades with €7.60-€7.70/kg being quoted for 'R' grades. €7.50/kg is being quoted for 'O' grade bulls and €7.40/kg is being quoted for 'P' grade bulls.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €7.40-€7.50/kg this week.