Factory quotes: Beef trade firm but warning store trade ‘out of kilter’

This week’s factory quotes sees the beef trade remaining on firm footing but procurement staff are warning that the current rising store trade is “out of kilter” with no signals of beef market certainty.

With Ploughing 2026 now behind us, the autumn store cattle trade is kicking into full swing in line with the usual trend for late September.

Numbers of cattle on offer at weekly mart sales are rising and store cattle prices have lifted 20-30c/kg in some cases also.

Prices were up €50-€100/head at Carnew Mart on Saturday, September 19.

However, procurement staff are warning that the rising store cattle trade into the autumn is risky and “out of kilter” with no degree of price certainty into the medium term.

Winter finishers who bought cattle last autumn for finishing in early 2026 will be well aware of this.

The rising store trade in autumn 2025 resulted in many finishers counting their losses as beef prices fell earlier this year in what materialised as a significant market correction.

Procurement staff are admitting the beef trade is “okay” currently, but are giving no signals of confidence on how the trade will look from early 2027 onwards.

Beef price offers are currently approximately 70c/kg below this time last year for prime cattle.

Factory quotes: Heifers and steers

This week, heifers are generally being quoted at €6.50-€6.60/kg on the grid.

Steers (bullocks) are being quoted at €6.40-€6.50/kg on the grid.

There is some scope for discussions on price in cases for choice lots of prime cattle but procurement staff are saying there are a few more cattle around this week after supplies being somewhat tighter last week.

The latest official prices paid by factories are available to view here .

Weekly kill numbers have been largely steady over the past five weeks hovering around 32,000 head, with no data available for the week ending Sunday, September 20, yet.

Cow price

Fleshed cows from a ‘P’ grade upwards scoring a ‘3’ or above in fat score with a carcass-weight of over 270kg are clearing €6.00/kg in most cases.

‘P’ grade cows are being quoted at €6.00/kg this week but other outlets are starting offers at lower rates of €5.80-€5.90/kg for ‘P’ grade cows.

‘O’ grade cows are being quoted at €6.10/kg, and again, some of the lower offers are coming in at €6.00/kg for these.

‘R’ grade cows are being quoted at €6.30-€6.40/kg, and ‘U’ grade cows are being quoted at €6.40/kg up to €6.60/kg.

Some regular suppliers are managing to secure higher rates for choice lots of cows at specific outlet locations.

Bulls

Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €6.70/kg for ‘U’ grades, with €6.60/kg tabled for ‘R’ grade bulls again this week.

‘O’ grade bulls are being quoted at €6.40/kg and ‘P’ grade bulls are being quoted at €6.30/kg.

In some cases, fleshed bulls are managing to secure rates above these opening price offers.

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

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