Beef trade better balanced than usual for late July

With the intake of cattle holding steady in the 32,000-33,000 head range, there is little scope for processors to squeeze prices tighter, having cut them as much as 10 cents/kg over the past month.

The intake tightened slightly last week, putting a shade more pressure on processors.

Rarely has the trade been so balanced in the second half of July between processors’ cattle needs and what price finishers will accept.

Excellent farming conditions in 2017 are also a factor in this market situation, with beef animals thriving even where the supply of grass has begun to tighten.

And so it is that the quoted prices for this week are unchanged for steers, at a base of 400-415 cents/kg.

Some processors have tried their hand at offering a base of 400 cents/kg for steers, but this week most of them appear to be willing to pay up to 405 cents/kg to get stock.

Heifer prices have strengthened slightly, with processors finding that few are available for less than a base price of 415 cents/kg this week.

However, in the cow trade, prices have weakened a shade this week, particularly at the lower end.

The general run for O/P-grade cows is 300-340 cents/kg, with up to 355-360 cents/kg going for the better quality R-grade cows.

The cattle intake at beef factories for last week was just over 32,000 head, when Kepak (Clare) is included, although the official kill will show around 31,500 head, because the former Kelly plant in Co Clare, which has been acquired by Kepak , and is now under the Kepak umbrella, has not yet been fully integrated into the Department of Agriculture cattle market reports system.

In Britain, the beef trade remained firm last week with good demand and relatively tight supplies of finished cattle.

Prices increased again, with R4L-grade steers averaging equivalent to 453 cent/kg (if VAY is included, and with the Euro at 88.56p sterling.

In France, the beef market remained sluggish last week, negatively affected by the weather conditions.

Beef promotions at retail level were for domestically produced items.

In Italy, the market remains steady, with demand best for forequarters.Despite this trend at the factories, there was a firm trade maintained at the mart sales on Monday were up to €81 over was paid by butchers for lambs.