This week's factory quotes sees beef price offers continue to decline, with a further 10c/kg taken off factory beef price quotes to farmers.

Several procurement staff have not ruled out further price cuts for next week. The message is that "beef sales are poor" and the "trade is under pressure".

Beef price offers are now approximately €1.10/kg below this time last year and 70c/kg below the start of this year.

Many farmers speculating on the beef trade would be of the opinion that the arrival of hot weather in late May would have been a good week to have finished cattle to sell from a price point.

However, this week's offers sees the lowest price put forward by beef factories since February 2025, which was not expected by most beef industry stakeholders at the start of this year.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.40/kg on the grid and steers are generally being quoted at €6.30/kg.

Some outlets are tabling €6.45/kg for heifers and €6.40 for steers that are in-spec and ranging from 300-400kg carcass-weight.

Some farmers who had cattle booked in since last week are still managing to secure last week's prices, but procurement staff sound confident this week's offers will be setting into the trade.

Angus breed bonuses are generally ranging from 15-20c/kg on eligible cattle, while Hereford breed bonuses are generally ranging from 5-10c/kg on eligible cattle.

Cow price

Fleshed, 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €5.80/kg this week with some outlets reducing their 'P' grade cow price offer to €5.70/kg.

'O' grade cows are being quoted at €5.90-€6.00/kg.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.10/kg in general and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at €6.20-€6.30/kg.

Cow prices have generally reduced by 10c/kg in the past week but some cow suppliers are managing to secure higher prices than what factories are quoting.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.50/kg for 'U' grades.

'R' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.40/kg in general.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.30/kg, and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.20-€6.10/kg.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.40/kg on the grid in general this week.