This week's factory quotes for prime beef cattle demonstrates that the official price offers remain unchanged for the seventh consecutive week.

In the same seven-week time period last year, finished cattle price offers had increased by approximately 80c/kg from €5.60-6.40/kg.

Many farmers had been anticipating prices to move upward again this spring but to date, that has not materialised.

Despite this, beef price offers remain approximately 60c/kg above this time last year but Irish beef prices are currently running below both the UK and EU average.

As of Saturday, February 14, the average Irish R3 steer price was €7.10/kg, according to the Bord Bia cattle price dashboard.

On the same date, the EU equivalent average male cattle price was €7.19/kg and the UK equivalent was €7.34/kg.

Factory quotes: heifers and steers

This week, heifers are being quoted at €7.10/kg on the grid, and steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €7.00/kg on the grid again this week, generally speaking.

At the higher end of official price offers, €7.10-7.15/kg has been tabled for steers, and €7.20/kg on the grid has been tabled again this week for heifers.

These higher offers seem to be less available again this week and are primarily being tabled in the north-west of the country for choice lots of in-spec cattle.

Breed bonuses remain generally at 10-15c/kg and 20c/kg for Hereford and Angus cattle respectively, but up to 30c/kg remains available at some outlets for in-spec Angus heifers and steers with carcass-weights from 300-380kg.

Cow price

Cow price is steady again this week. 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €6.40/kg with €6.50-6.60/kg on offer for 'O' grade cows.

'R' grade cows are being quoted at €6.70-6.80/kg, and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at premiums of up to €7.00/kg in cases.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €7.30-7.40/kg for 'U' grades and €7.20-7.30/kg being quoted for 'R' grades.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.00-7.10/kg, while 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.90-7.00/kg.

Under-16-month-old bulls are being quoted at €7.00/kg on the grid again this week in general.

Some farmers are managing to secure higher rates for certain specifications of cattle suitable for specific factory contracts.