This week's factory quotes sees beef price offers looking more firm to positive, with some of the lower price offers put forward for cows last week taken off the table for this week.

Until now, lower price offers tabled in previous weeks had been setting into the trade in the following week.

The move this week to reverse some of the lower cow price offers from last week can be seen as a positive signal for the beef trade.

Despite this, the Bord Bia cattle price dashboard shows that as of March 21, the Irish composite beef price was €6.62/kg, a total of 40c/kg below the export benchmark price of €7.02/kg.

Some farmers have been delayed on roads while getting their cattle to marts and factories as a result of the fuel price protests taking place across the country today (Tuesday, April 7) and industry logistics have been set back as a result.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, bullocks (steers) are being quoted at €6.60/kg in general, with up to €6.70/kg tabled in the north-west for steers with 300-400kg carcass-weights.

Heifers are generally being quoted at €6.70/kg on the grid, with €6.75/kg tabled in the north-west for 300-400kg carcass-weight heifers.

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

Cow price

Fleshed, 'P' grade cows are generally being quoted at €6.00/kg this week.

Some outlets that tabled €5.90/kg for 'P' grade cows last week have returned to quoting €6.00/kg this week.

'O' grade cows are being quoted at €6.10/kg, with €6.20/kg quoted for better-type 'O+' grading cows.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.30-€6.40/kg, and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at premiums of up to €6.70/kg with other outlets quoting €6.40-€6.50/kg for these.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.80-€6.90/kg for 'U' grades. 'R' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.70-€6.80/kg in general.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at approximately €6.50/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at approximately €6.40/kg.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.60/kg on the grid.