March 16, 2021 5:00 pm
Beef prices are seeing some movement in quotes this week, yet some negotiations and the digging in of heels is needed to achieve some of these higher prices that are reportedly being secured by finishers in recent days.
Heifers are receiving quotes of €3.85/kg in some plants, yet farmers are still being offered quotes of €3.80/kg in cases. Deals of €3.90/kg are hard achieved – with the deals secured being for specific loads of in-spec females.
For bullocks this week, the money on the table is starting from €3.75/kg with more cases of €3.80/kg being paid.
In the cow trade, continuing improvements are being seen week-on-week, as P-grades are now priced at €3.00-3.10/kg. Moving up to the O-grades, processors are now favourably offering €3.20/kg.
March 1, 2021 6:00 am
The week-on-week quotes for prime cattle in Northern Ireland are holding firm according to the Livestock and Meat Commission. Quotes for this week are also predicted to remain the same for steers and heifers.
For the last week of February, U-3 grades of prime cattle were receiving quotes ranging from £3.62 (€4.18/kg) up to £3.70/kg (€4.27/kg).
Looking at the R-3 grades, these were priced at £3.56-3.64/kg (€4.11-4.20/kg) last week.
O+3 grades were offered £3.50-3.58/kg (€4.04-4.13/kg). These quotes included bonuses where applicable.
Turning to the cow trade, the O+3 grading cows and better were valued at £2.65-2.80/kg (€3.06-3.23/kg). The majority of local plants were quoting in the region of £2.65-2.72/kg (€3.05-3.14/kg).
February 23, 2021 5:00 pm
It’s a case of business as usual for prices quoted for bullocks and heifers this week, with some factories remaining coy on their levels of demand.
The general prices being quoted this week are seeing steers and heifers starting off at €3.70/kg. Reports of finishers digging in their heels are seeing quotes moving up to €3.75/kg for heifers and some steers, provided they are in-spec.
Speaking to
AgriLand, Brendan Golden, the chairperson of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) National Livestock Committee, stated:
Winter finishers need every penny they can get at the moment when they are killing their cattle – with the price of inputs going up their backs are to the wall.