Numbers of finished cattle coming to the market remain very tight, with factories continuing to have some difficulty in sourcing adequate supplies for this week’s kill.

Factories have had no choice but to up quotes again this week, with some having to rise by 10c/kg on last week’s quotes in order to get cattle.

Bullocks are now moving at €7.20/kg to €7.30/kg, with heifers being sold at €7.30/kg to €7.40/kg and a top price of €7.45/kg being paid for a bunch of Charolais heifers this week with free transport.

With quality assurance and grading, it brings the load just over €7.80/kg.

Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle are also in demand, with 30c/kg going for Aberdeen Angus in-spec cattle and 20c/kg for Hereford cattle.

Many smaller finishers continue to move their animals via the mart route, with the equivalent of €8/kg deadweight being paid in marts for factory-fit cattle towards the end of last week.

Cows

The cow trade remains very steady, with factory agents very active for heavy, well-covered cows.

R grading cows are generally trading at €7.00/kg to €7.10/kg, while O grading cows are coming in around €6.70/kg to €6.80/kg.

Up to €7.20/kg has been paid for U grading cows this week. There is a big range in quotes for P grading cows, with those with numbers able to bargain more.

Up to €6.60/kg to €6.70/kg is being paid where cows are well finished.

Good grass supply in the south has meant that farmers are milking on dairy cows and in no rush to offload culls.

Bulls

Bulls are in demand, with up to €7.60/kg now available at the top end for U grading bulls, working back to €7.30/kg to €7.40/kg for O grading bulls.

A number of factory agents are actually ringing around looking for bulls for this week’s kill.

Higher quotes of €7.70/kg have been paid to feeders dealing with bigger numbers.