This week's factory quotes sees beef price offers cut by 10c/kg across the board again this week.

The continued decline in beef price seems to have caught many beef finishers and even some factory agents by surprise, with many expecting the trade would have firmed by now.

The message factory cattle procurement staff are hearing from factory beef sales teams is that beef is "hard sold" at present and that markets are remaining challenging.

Beef price offers are currently running €1/kg below this time last year.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.50/kg on the grid and steers are generally being quoted at €6.40/kg.

Some outlets are tabling €6.50/kg for both steers and heifers this week, while at the higher end of the price scale, €6.55/kg on the grid has been tabled for in-spec 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 being quoted at €6.00/kg this week with some outlets reducing their 'P' grade cow price offer to €5.90/kg.

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

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.20-€6.30/kg, and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at €6.30-€6.40/kg.

Cow prices have generally reduced by 10c/kg in the past week.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.70/kg for 'U' grades.

'R' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.60/kg in general.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.40-€6.50/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.30-€6.40/kg.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.40-€6.50/kg on the grid in general this week.