Weather poses biggest threat to cattle prices
Although officially quoted prices across the country are unchanged, factory agents are reporting greater difficulty in securing supplies, and harder dealing by farmers with cattle to sell.
The base quote for steers is from 350 to 355 cents/kg (125p to 127p/lb), but processors are reported to be paying at least 5 cent/kg more to get cattle.
Quotes for heifers stay 5 cent/kg ahead of steers, but actual prices being paid for good quality heifers are running at least 10 cent/kg (4p/lb) stronger than the quoted prices.
Although the national cattle kill last week topped 31,100 head, that is likely to fall, and demand for cattle is strong.
Average August prices have set a record for the month, and September is looking very good — if the weather does not take a turn for the worse and force out large supplies for a couple of weeks.
Listowel Races and the National Ploughing Championships will be taking place over the next two weeks, and both events usually reduce the supply of cattle available to processors, as cattle farmers take a break.
The cow trade continues strong at factories and live sales.
Prices at the lower end of the O/P scale have improved by 5 to 8 cent/kg, and range from 298 to 312 cent/kg (106p to 111p/lb).
There is strong demand for the heavier, better quality cows with potential to achieve R grade, with the best of these capable of making up to 330 cent/kg.
The beef trade in Britain remained firm over the past week, reflecting on-going tight cattle supplies.
Prices across all cuts were maintained at retail level. Prices for cattle firmed further, with R4L grade steers averaging equivalent to 389 cent/kg (139p/lb).
The trade on the Continent has started to ease for hindquarter product, as the holiday season closes, and the trade for forequarter product has begun to seasonally improve.
