AHDB is reporting a 32.3% decrease in the number of R4L steers slaughtered from a high of 3,933 pre-Christmas to just 2,661 head. Steers are reported at £3.81/kg, up 1p on the week. Heifers, of the same grade, are quoted at the same price, of £3.81/kg. The heifer kill is also back 40%.

Cow prices have also remained stable, down 1p to £2.77/kg for O+4L carcasses. Although numbers are back 69% they would be expected to lift heading into the new year.

Young bulls at a grade of R4L are quoted at £3.68/kg, with a small number of specialist finishers filling orders.

Looking back at the year gone, beef imports increased by 4% , equalling a volume of 9,000 tonnes according to data from the HMRC.

This increase would have been expected as UK production levels are behind where they were last year with no dip in demand levels.

Estimated slaughterings for the Christmas period are also thought to be lower than last year, so 2018 could see a further rise in imports to balance the growing deficit.