Beef prices strengthen for second week

Finishers are now being hit by higher transport costs with the hauliers increasing their prices to recompense for the hike in fuel prices.

The factory beef prices are holding steady for the second consecutive week, strengthening the hope of finishers that the downward slide may have bottomed out — at least for the present.

Supplies are reported to be flowing smoothly to the processing plants and the waiting time to get cattle killed appears to have ended. There was a strong intake last week of just shy of 31,000 head for the shorter working week, excluding Good Friday.

Questions continue to be raised as to the percentage of the weekly supply coming for factory owned, or controlled, feed lots to maintain the weekly intake which has been consistently steady at 30,000-31,000 head for the last 13 consecutive weeks.

Steers are being quoted on a base of 660c/kg and heifers on a base of 670c/kg with the factories resisting engaging in negotiating deals for prices over the base line.

However, there are isolated reports of suppliers getting an extra 5c/kg on larger lots of quality heifers, but the factories are showing no indication of being under pressure to get additional supplies through the gates.

The cow prices are also unchanged in general at 630-635c/kg for R grade and the R grade young bulls are making up to 680c/kg and some a few cents/kg more.

Some suppliers are reported to be experiencing difficulty in getting the breed bonus on Hereford and Angus at individual factories. The bonus is currently worth up to 20c/kg and the best advice is to ensure its inclusion in the deal on price before supplying the animals to the individual factory.

Additionally, finishers are now being hit by higher transport costs with the hauliers increasing their prices to recompense for the hike in fuel prices, which is substantial for the larger trucks that don't go many metres on a litre of diesel, now costing €2.15.

The processors are defending their stand on the lower prices being justified against the background of the weaker market for beef and in particular the more expensive cuts losing favour with the consumers.

While the argument of farming leaders that Irish beef prices have fallen below the UK and European average is justified, the monitoring of the retail trade confirms that expenditure on beef by consumers has dropped by more than 20%, being mainly attributed to the impact of food inflation on overall living costs.

The intake last week came to 30,928 head, which was strong for the four day week, when Good Friday was excluded. The weekly supply remains under 2025 level by an average of more than 5,000/head per week year to date.

The supply last week included 12,283 steers, 9,729 heifers, 6,667 cows and 1,603 young bulls. The deficit of supply, compared to 2025, continues to increase and now stands at 73,000 head for the first 14 weeks of 2026.