The average age of steers and heifers at slaughter in NI has dropped to date in 2017, compared with the same period last year, according to figures published by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC).

The average age of slaughter for steers and heifers in 2017 to date was 23.9 months and 24.1 months, which both represent a 0.5 month decrease compared with 2016.

This falling trend has continued on from last year, with the average of slaughter for steers and heifers standing at 24.8 months and 24.4 months respectively in the same period in 2015.

The decrease in average slaughter ages also means that more cattle are meeting the under 30-month specification requirement. Figures indicate that 86% of steers and 89% of heifers were killed under 30 months in 2017 to date, compared with 83% and 86% respectively in 2016.

Carcase weights

The LMC state that the reduction in age of slaughter of steers did not transpire into a reduction in carcase weights from 2015 to 2017 for steers from various origins.

The slaughter age of suckler bred steers fell from 24.2 months in the period in 2015 to 23.3 months this year, however carcases weights have increased slightly from 365kg to 367kg.

Although the slaughter age of beef sired steers from the dairy herd reduced from 25.7 months to 24.7 month from 2015 to 2017, carcases weights remained unchanged at 338kg.

Likewise, dairy origin steers showed a drop in slaughter ages from 26.3 months to 25.2 months, which did not transpire into a drop in carcase weights with the 2017 average standing at 308kg.

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