After a number of weeks of dropping quotes, factories have moved to steady quotes this week, with the beef trade in a similar position to what it was for last week.

In general, bullocks are moving this week at €7.20/kg base price.

There are some factories trying to quote lower prices of €7.10/kg base, but are getting little cattle bought at the lower quotes.

Heifers also continue to move at €7.30/kg base price this week, with more going to those with numbers.

There also seems to a little more bite for Aberdeen Angus cattle this week, with flat prices of as high as €7.70/kg being paid to source numbers of suitable in-spec Aberdeen Angus bullocks and heifers.

Factory agents are indicating a reduced number of cattle being available for slaughter in the next few weeks, with a lot of shed cattle cleared out in the last two weeks.

Factories continue to reiterate that steak cuts have become difficult to market, with supermarket price rises adding some pressure on consumer purchases and their meat choices over the last few weeks.

Hot weather in the last week is expected to increase demand to back-fill burger supplies, which should help manufacturing beef markets.

Cows

R grading cows are generally trading at €6.90/kg to €7.00/kg, while O grading cows are coming in around €6.60/kg to €6.70/kg.

There is a big range in quotes for P grading cows, with those with numbers able to bargain more and up to €6.30/kg to €6.60/kg being paid where cows are well finished.

Bulls

Bulls have also steadied, with €7.50/kg still available at the top end for U grading bulls, working back to €7.30/kg to €7.35/kg for O grading bulls.

A few farmers killing aged bulls have also managed to get €7.40/kg flat for mixes of Os, Rs and P grading bulls

Higher prices are also being paid to farmers who are contract feeding bigger numbers of bulls and larger feeders without a contract have also been able to hammer out better deals.

Under-16-month bulls are working off a €7.20/kg base, with a little more going where there are numbers involved.