This week opens with factories still chasing cattle, but at the same time determined to keep a check on price.

Steer quotes are in general €4.05/kg, with heifers at €4.15/kg, which is typically 5c/kg back on what was widely available last week.

With a good supply of grass in peak season and lots of cattle still a couple of weeks off being ready for slaughter, factories are having to work to get cattle.

However, that doesn’t mean more money, as there seems to be a general determination that €4.05/kg and €4.15/kg will be the going rate.

As always, there are deals at higher levels where farmers with something special to offer and are prepared to negotiate can squeeze another few cents on top of this.

Beef trade remains good

On the positive side, the trade for beef remains good. There is a boat on its way for live cattle and the Chinese visit, which will hopefully lead to the opening of that market for beef, will take place in July.

We are also hearing that a free-trade deal with Japan is close and as that is the second biggest importer of beef in the world after the USA, that suggests more market options will develop for beef in the months ahead.

It may not help the trade next week, but in the longer term will be of benefit unless Ireland is hit by a particularly bad Brexit deal that damages access to the UK market.

Cow trade

The cow trade is extremely variable from factory to factory at the minute. Factories that are active in the cow trade are offering from €3.30/kg on P grades, €3.40/kg on O grades, with €3.50/kg being paid for goo- quality R grading cows.

However, where factories aren’t chasing cows, up to 10c/kg less will be offered, with €3.20/kg on P grades, €3.30/kg on O grades and even real good R grading cows only making €3.40/kg.

Young bulls

Young bulls are heading out of season, but are typically making €4.05 on the grid for under 16 months, while young bulls over 16 months are typically still getting €4/kg on Rs and €4.10/kg on Us.

It must be remembered that these are very small market opportunities and it is more or less a contractual arrangement between individual feeders for specific numbers.

It isn’t a business that is widely available and farmers need to be sure of their outlet and price before feeding for this market.

Britain and NI

Factory quotes are running at £3.60/kg (€4.32/kg) to £3.64/kg (€4.36/kg), but most farmers are selling at £3.66/kg (€4.38/kg) to £3.70/kg (€4.43/kg).

Cow prices in the North are steady at £2.75/kg (€3.29/kg) to £2.80/kg (€3.35/kg) for O3 cows, with R grading cows making £2.90/kg (€3.47/kg).

Prices in the North have been on par with Britain in recent weeks and with the overall trade remaining strong for UK origin, beef prices are at least holding if not indeed creeping up further.

The sterling-euro exchange rate remains around €1 worth 88p.

Read more

In pictures: steady as it goes in Bandon

Long read: why do farmers and plcs struggle to run beef factories?/a>