The recent weekly increase in the beef kill continues, with last week’s throughput recorded at 36,001 head, up 590. Steer throughput declined for the first time in 13 weeks to 16,708, down about 300 head.
This was more than compensated for by a 436-head increase in cows (8,117), a lift of 275 head in the young bull kill (2,452) and 137 more heifers (8,109) processed.
The bright aspect of the trade is that demand remains solid, with factories very active in purchasing. Base steer prices at the start of the week ranged from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg, with heifers trading from a base of €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg.
As the week progresses, farmers have been meeting resistance in securing the higher base for cattle traded to move at the end of this week or early next week.
Factories are pointing to a weakening in the value of sterling, which stood at 90p to the euro yesterday, having strengthened 1.4p from the previous evening.
Demand at the start of the week was helped by farmers taking advantage of the upturn in weather to complete field work. Others are leaving cattle as long as possible to give a better chance of hitting a fat score of 2+ or better.
Flat-priced deals for heifers and steers are holding steady to last week. Heifers range from €3.70/kg to €3.80/kg, with breed bonuses, where applicable, ranging from 5c/kg to 10c/kg. Early maturing steers are selling 10c/kg lower on average, with Friesian steers selling flat from €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg, with demand strongest in the northwest.
Bulls increasing
Bull throughput is rising, with more bulls starting to appear following an indoor intensive finishing period. Prices are largely unchanged, with a high percentage of sellers working closely with individual processors.
Prices for R and U grade bulls range from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg and €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg respectively. Small numbers of u-16 month bulls and trading on the grid are being offered a base of €3.70/kg.
At the lower end of the market, O=/+ grading Friesian bulls with an adequate flesh cover (2+ or better) are trading from €3.55/kg in small numbers to €3.65/kg at the higher end.
Cows coming without significant feeding from dairy and suckler herds are meeting weaker demand, both in factories and marts. P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.85/kg to €2.95/kg, with very light-carcase cows killing with a fat cover of one trading anywhere from 30c/kg to 60c/kg lower.
Fleshed O grading cows continue to attract firm demand, selling from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg. R grades are variable, depending on the plant, ranging from €3.15/kg to €3.30/kg, with U grades to €3.40/kg at the higher end of the market.
British trade steadies
British prices have steadied after upward movement since last May. R4L steer prices are 1p/kg easier at an average of £3.70/kg (€4.32/kg including VAT), with heifers 2p/kg easier at €3.65/kg (€4.26/kg).
A price differential of 10p/kg to 15p/kg remains between prices in Scotland/north England and the south of England. O grading cows are reported to have slipped 7p/kg on average, ranging in price from £2.30/kg to £2.40/kg (€2.68/kg to €2.80/kg).
Northern U-3 base quotes range from £3.30/kg to £3.36/kg (€3.85/kg to €3.92/kg), with regular sellers still able to secure 4p/kg to 6p/kg above quotes with in-spec heifers particularly in demand.
O grading fleshed cows are trading from £2.40/kg to £2.55/kg (€2.80/kg to €2.98/kg).
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Northern view: sterling pressure puts base into beef prices
The recent weekly increase in the beef kill continues, with last week’s throughput recorded at 36,001 head, up 590. Steer throughput declined for the first time in 13 weeks to 16,708, down about 300 head.
This was more than compensated for by a 436-head increase in cows (8,117), a lift of 275 head in the young bull kill (2,452) and 137 more heifers (8,109) processed.
The bright aspect of the trade is that demand remains solid, with factories very active in purchasing. Base steer prices at the start of the week ranged from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg, with heifers trading from a base of €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg.
As the week progresses, farmers have been meeting resistance in securing the higher base for cattle traded to move at the end of this week or early next week.
Factories are pointing to a weakening in the value of sterling, which stood at 90p to the euro yesterday, having strengthened 1.4p from the previous evening.
Demand at the start of the week was helped by farmers taking advantage of the upturn in weather to complete field work. Others are leaving cattle as long as possible to give a better chance of hitting a fat score of 2+ or better.
Flat-priced deals for heifers and steers are holding steady to last week. Heifers range from €3.70/kg to €3.80/kg, with breed bonuses, where applicable, ranging from 5c/kg to 10c/kg. Early maturing steers are selling 10c/kg lower on average, with Friesian steers selling flat from €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg, with demand strongest in the northwest.
Bulls increasing
Bull throughput is rising, with more bulls starting to appear following an indoor intensive finishing period. Prices are largely unchanged, with a high percentage of sellers working closely with individual processors.
Prices for R and U grade bulls range from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg and €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg respectively. Small numbers of u-16 month bulls and trading on the grid are being offered a base of €3.70/kg.
At the lower end of the market, O=/+ grading Friesian bulls with an adequate flesh cover (2+ or better) are trading from €3.55/kg in small numbers to €3.65/kg at the higher end.
Cows coming without significant feeding from dairy and suckler herds are meeting weaker demand, both in factories and marts. P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.85/kg to €2.95/kg, with very light-carcase cows killing with a fat cover of one trading anywhere from 30c/kg to 60c/kg lower.
Fleshed O grading cows continue to attract firm demand, selling from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg. R grades are variable, depending on the plant, ranging from €3.15/kg to €3.30/kg, with U grades to €3.40/kg at the higher end of the market.
British trade steadies
British prices have steadied after upward movement since last May. R4L steer prices are 1p/kg easier at an average of £3.70/kg (€4.32/kg including VAT), with heifers 2p/kg easier at €3.65/kg (€4.26/kg).
A price differential of 10p/kg to 15p/kg remains between prices in Scotland/north England and the south of England. O grading cows are reported to have slipped 7p/kg on average, ranging in price from £2.30/kg to £2.40/kg (€2.68/kg to €2.80/kg).
Northern U-3 base quotes range from £3.30/kg to £3.36/kg (€3.85/kg to €3.92/kg), with regular sellers still able to secure 4p/kg to 6p/kg above quotes with in-spec heifers particularly in demand.
O grading fleshed cows are trading from £2.40/kg to £2.55/kg (€2.80/kg to €2.98/kg).
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Northern view: sterling pressure puts base into beef prices
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