Factories hold prices as finishers take hit on 2025 returns

Finishers who paid high prices for forward stores last autumn on the expectation of a strong spring factory price are now suffering heavy losses, such is the contrast with the price trend in 2026 compared to a year ago.

It’s a “steady as it goes” pattern of trade continuing at the factories this week, with the general run of prices for the main categories unchanged from recent weeks, while finishers are now taking a hit of €350–€450/head compared to 2025.

Factory agents are reported to be “a little more active” in some regions of the country, while their bosses at the processing plants are maintaining a very tight grip on any upward price movement.

After two short working weeks, the return to a full week resulted in an increase of about 1,000 head in factory intake last week to 31,474 head — the highest weekly intake for a month.

Finishers who paid high prices for forward stores last autumn on the expectation of a strong spring factory price are now suffering heavy losses, such is the contrast with the price trend in 2026 compared to a year ago.

The expectation was that fewer finished animals for factories would drive prices forward. While intake is down by 5,000–6,000 head/week year to date, factory returns are down €350–€450/head on this time in 2025.

Steers remain on a base of 660c/kg, with some suppliers reporting hard selling can be worth an extra 5-8c/kg in some areas. A broadly similar trend is seen for heifers, working off a base of 670c/kg.

Higher prices that some suppliers had been securing in the West and North-West over recent weeks have tightened this week, according to suppliers, with the area falling more in line with the general pattern.

There is very little mention now of delays in getting cattle into factories, while intake continues to give the impression of being “controlled” at about 31,000 head/week.

Some finishers of Angus and Hereford cattle report it remains a battle to secure breed bonuses of up to 20c/kg for Angus and 10c/kg for Hereford at certain plants.

The cow trade continues to return 640–645c/kg for R-grade, while young bulls are making up to 680-690c/kg for R-grade as intake slips back from earlier spring levels.

Last week’s intake totalled 31,474 head, an increase of 1,000 head on the previous week, but 2,500 head lower than the same week last year.

The breakdown included 12,693 steers, 9,741 heifers, 6,768 cows and 1,391 young bulls.

Year-to-date supply stands at 493,470 head, compared to 574,563 head in 2025 — a drop of more than 81,000 head.