Finishers are beginning to regain some lost ground

Steers Heifers Cull Cows Young Bulls AS in sport, confidence and momentum count for a lot in the cattle business.

The Dubs overcame a shaky start to prevail last Sunday. And after a very shaky start to the autumn trade, when the weather enabled the factories to push prices down rapidly, there are signs that finishers are maybe starting to regain some ground.

All the agents and farmers I spoke to yesterday morning — whether in the north, south east or west — quoted prices for bullocks at €3.80/kg with heifer’s 10c/kg further up the ladder at €3.90/kg.

No change there from last week. True, but I was also told that some of the bigger players were still instructing their agents to quote €3.75/kg for bullocks “to keep a semblance of pressure on” while actually paying €3.80/kg.

Angus Woods of IFA reports that base quotes of €3.85/kg for bullocks and €3.95/kg for heifers have been offered to secure stock.

The fear factory bosses have is that with the ploughing on this week numbers may drop.

And while there has been a lot of talk about beef being 10c/kg less after the ploughing every bullock, bull and heifer can only be killed once, and that particular numbers score board has been ticking over strongly all year.

Bull prices also remain steady this week with under 16-month stock to go on the grid being quoted yet again at a base of €3.80/kg.

Bulls up to 24-months are on €3.90/kg for Us back to €3.70-3.65/kg for Os with Rs at €3.80/kg.

Cows too remain steady with Rs up to €3.55/kg with Os on €3.40-3.330/kg and Ps tightening up in price to between €3.30-3.10/kg.

The ICSA grabbed the headlines last week as they called for a review of the current pricing grid a move they hoped will help save the suckler sector.

I personally think that a proper review of the entire slaughter, payment, including fifth quarter allowance, and line supervision system is long overdue.

Any review should concentrate on getting the best price possible for all stock going through the system alongside better line and trim supervision.

Meanwhile, IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said the positive change in sterling from 92p back to 88p must be reflected in stronger cattle prices back to farmers.

When sterling went the other way every factory and agent used it as the excuse to pull prices and it is of critical importance that the market is now seen to be working, said Mr Woods.

THE BIGGER PLAYERS WERE INSTRUCTING AGENTS TO QUOTE €3.75/KG TO KEEP A SEMBLANCE OF PRESSURE ON