Beef finishers reel from mounting losses as factory prices hold steady
The processors are pointing to weak markets for beef and consumers opting for cheaper alternatives as the escalating fuel and energy costs squeeze on households in the current economic climate.
The beef trade at the factories remains steady at unchanged prices this week as the finishers continue to add up their rising losses on finishing of beef animals for the spring-early summer market 2026.
The base quote for steers at the processing plants continues at 660c/kg with the base for heifers at 670c/kg in general and suppliers reporting a "challenge" trying to get extra for their stock.
The young bulls are making 675-680c/kg for R grade this week and cows remain in demand at 645-650c/kg for R's.
Heading into the usually highest price point of the market annually from mid-May to mid-June, suppliers are finding it hard to see any prospect of getting returns anywhere near the level required for a break-even on spring finishing.
The processors are pointing to weak markets for beef and consumers opting for cheaper alternatives as the escalating fuel and energy costs squeeze on households in the current economic climate.
"This year is turning into another killer blow for producers to have any confidence in the sector and the men who believed that the predictions of a tight supply for this spring would become the catalyst to underpin returns for a decent margin are being shattered." This from one finisher is typical of the general air of despondency.
A year ago processors paid a national average of 792c/kg for R=3= steers inclusive of bonus/penalties as applicable, for the last week of April, according to the prices compiled by the Department of Agriculture from 'actual' returns to producers from the country's processors.
A year on, the Department of Agriculture analysis showed the national average for R=3= steers for the same week was 696c/kg, a difference which adds up to just shy of €400 difference for a typical carcass.
The margin of difference for R=3= heifers was 81c/kg with the official figures showing that the heifer prices in general were lower than steer prices.
Add to these figures the higher cost of bought-in forward stores last autumn — the better quality animals costing 475-500c/kg lw, plus the high production costs over the winter, which exposes the measure of losses which the finishers are currently experiencing.
Intake for last week was 30,657 head, 1,800 head less than the same week in 2025, a continuation of the consistent pattern. The supply included 12,289 steers, 9,799 heifers, 6,155 cows and 1,512 young bulls.
