Factory returns fall by up to €200/head since January
The vibes over recent weeks of 'more positivity' in the factory trade have failed to convert into cash for the cattlemen supplying stock and quotes for this week remain largely unchanged at last week's rate.
The clear blue skies are a big improvement in the weather as the season moves closer to May Day, but the expected sun to shine on beef prices at the factories for finishers remain well below the hopes.
It has been a spring like few others for beef finishers with the official prices showing a drop of up to €200/head in the value of the typical factory animal since January — in a very sharp contrast to the regular trend — which has shattered the expectations of the cattle men.
The vibes over recent weeks of "more positivity" in the factory trade have failed to convert into cash for the cattlemen supplying stock and quotes for this week remain largely unchanged at last week's rate.
In general, steers continue to be quoted at a base of 660c/kg and heifers on 670c/kg. Some of the larger suppliers are reported to be getting up to 10c/kg more for heifers this week, but it is not generally being paid, and it continues to be difficult to get much above the official quote for steers.
Young bulls retain a premium over steers on 680-685c/kg for R-grade and R-grade cows are holding at 640-645c/kg.
The beef price pattern year-to-date has shattered the predictions of a strong price being delivered on the back of tighter supply. In 2026, the supply tightening by an average of over 5,000 head/week, a decline of 14%, hasn't been sufficient to hold beef prices steady.
Official figures show that the value of finished animals being supplied to the factories has dropped by up to €200/head since January as a result to sustained erosion of the actual prices paid by the country's beef processing plants.
According to analysis by the Department of Agriculture of the actual prices paid, the national factory return on R=3= steers has fallen by 47c/kg with equivalent grade heifer prices falling by a similar amount.
The national average for the steers, inclusive of bonuses and Vat in early January, was 741c/kg and for mid-April it was back to 694c/kg. Over the same period the average heifer price has dropped from 749c/kg to 702c/kg.
Individual factories will show some variations on the national average, which is the best overall measure of the trend in 2026, a spring which has become like few others in the history of the trade.
