This week's factory quotes have seen most outlets move to reduce their prime cattle price offers by 10c/kg.

A lot of the cattle booked in for this week will have been purchased at last week's prices, but procurement bosses are saying cattle being booked in this week will be at the lower price rates.

This week marks the first time steer (bullock) base price offers have dipped below €7.00/kg since last March.

Processors are saying there are "more than enough" factory-fit cattle around than what is required currently, and they expect this to remain the case for the next 4-6 weeks.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are being quoted at €7.00/kg on the grid in general, with up to €7.10/kg tabled in the north-west for suitable heifers of 300-400kg carcass-weight.

Other outlets are starting the week off at €6.95/kg for plainer heifers and €7.00/kg for stronger 'R' and 'U' grading heifers.

Steers are being quoted at €6.90-€6.95/kg on the grid in general this week, with up to €7.05/kg tabled in the north-west for suitable 300-400kg carcass-weight steers.

Breed bonuses remain available for in-spec Angus and Hereford heifers and steers ranging from 10-20c/kg in general with some outlets offering up to 30c/kg for Angus heifers and steers of certain carcase specifications.

Cow price

Cow price appears to have held more stable than prime cattle price this week, with some outlets holding their cow price offers at the same level as last week but others having reduced their price quote for 'P' grade cows in particular.

This week, 'P' grade cows are generally being quoted at €6.30/kg for the better types, with some outlets quoting €6.20/kg and others as low as €6.00/kg for 'P' grade cows.

'O' grade cows are generally being quoted at €6.40/kg for the better types, with €6.20/kg quoted for some of the plainer 'O' grade types.

'R' grade cows are generally being quoted at €6.60-€6.70/kg and 'U' grade cows are being quoted at €6.80-€6.90/kg.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at€7.20/kg for 'U' grades and €7.10/kg for 'R' grades.

'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €6.90-€7.00/kg and 'P' grades are being quoted at €6.80/kg in general.

Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €6.90/kg on the grid.