The beef kill has exceeded 34,500 for the last five weeks, with last week’s throughput the highest for the year to date at 36,104 head.
This is about 1,500 head above the corresponding week in 2016, with total throughput for the year to date now running 80,000 head above last year’s level.
The higher kill is being driven by more cattle in the market right throughout the year, with estimates released from the CSO June livestock survey showing 72,000 more cattle in the two years-plus age bracket.
Despite the high kill, factories have been keen to maintain high throughput levels.
The general base price for steers ranges from €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with heifers moving on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.
However, the two dry days at the start of the week put pressure on supplies, with farmers taking advantage of the break to try to catch up on field work.
This led to more farmers with greater negotiating power securing a base of €3.80/kg for steers, with top prices for those trading at the top of the market of €3.82/kg to €3.85/kg.
Likewise, heifers trading at the top of the market achieved a base price of €3.92/kg to €3.95/kg.
Bull prices remain very variable, with farmer throughput having a big effect on potential price attained.
Producers handling smaller numbers are being offered €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for R grades and €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg for U grades.
Specialist finishers supplying high numbers are in a much stronger negotiating position, with a 5c/kg to 10c/kg premium paid, raising top prices for U grade bulls to €4.00/kg and slightly over in cases.
Small numbers of O grading Friesian bulls are trading anywhere from €3.60/kg to €3.75/kg, with seller bargaining power again influencing prices paid.
The cow trade is steady, with marts continuing to provide a good alternative sales outlet for producers with small numbers. P+3 grading cows are starting at €3.05/kg, but a high percentage are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.20/kg. O grades are selling from €3.20/kg to €3.30/kg, with cows traded in high numbers selling to €3.35/kg.
Likewise, R grades are selling from €3.35/kg to as high as €3.50/kg, while heavy U grades are still selling to €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg at the top of the market.
NI and British prices
Northern prices have eased 2p/kg to 4p/kg in cases, with factories less willing to exceed quotes. Sellers with small numbers are facing base entry U-3 quotes of less than £3.50/kg, with sellers with numbers on offer securing a base of £3.50/kg to £3.52/kg. Sterling has continued to strengthen and at 88.6p to the euro on Wednesday, this equates to €4.17/kg to €4.20/kg, including VAT at 5.4%.
Top prices of £3.54/kg to £3.56/kg (€4.21/kg to €4.23/kg) have been paid at the top of the market for choice heifers. Cows are trading in general from £2.60/kg to £2.70/kg (€3.09/kg to €3.21/kg) for fleshed O grades, with heavy top-quality R and U grade continental cows rising to £2.90/kg to £2.95/kg (€3.45/kg to €3.51/kg).
British cattle prices have dipped slightly in response to higher throughput with prices easing 1p/kg to 2p/kg. R4L steers are trading from £3.85/kg to £3.87/kg on average (€4.58/kg to €4.60/kg incl VAT), with prices running 6p/kg to 10p/kg higher in Scotland than further south. Heifers are trading on average 2p/kg lower than steers.
Download the Irish Farmers Journal news app today and get the latest prices for all grades and all factories through the built-in Livestock Tool.
Read more
Flood hardship scheme must remain a priority
BETTER farm weaning efficiency league
The beef kill has exceeded 34,500 for the last five weeks, with last week’s throughput the highest for the year to date at 36,104 head.
This is about 1,500 head above the corresponding week in 2016, with total throughput for the year to date now running 80,000 head above last year’s level.
The higher kill is being driven by more cattle in the market right throughout the year, with estimates released from the CSO June livestock survey showing 72,000 more cattle in the two years-plus age bracket.
Despite the high kill, factories have been keen to maintain high throughput levels.
The general base price for steers ranges from €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with heifers moving on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.
However, the two dry days at the start of the week put pressure on supplies, with farmers taking advantage of the break to try to catch up on field work.
This led to more farmers with greater negotiating power securing a base of €3.80/kg for steers, with top prices for those trading at the top of the market of €3.82/kg to €3.85/kg.
Likewise, heifers trading at the top of the market achieved a base price of €3.92/kg to €3.95/kg.
Bull prices remain very variable, with farmer throughput having a big effect on potential price attained.
Producers handling smaller numbers are being offered €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for R grades and €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg for U grades.
Specialist finishers supplying high numbers are in a much stronger negotiating position, with a 5c/kg to 10c/kg premium paid, raising top prices for U grade bulls to €4.00/kg and slightly over in cases.
Small numbers of O grading Friesian bulls are trading anywhere from €3.60/kg to €3.75/kg, with seller bargaining power again influencing prices paid.
The cow trade is steady, with marts continuing to provide a good alternative sales outlet for producers with small numbers. P+3 grading cows are starting at €3.05/kg, but a high percentage are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.20/kg. O grades are selling from €3.20/kg to €3.30/kg, with cows traded in high numbers selling to €3.35/kg.
Likewise, R grades are selling from €3.35/kg to as high as €3.50/kg, while heavy U grades are still selling to €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg at the top of the market.
NI and British prices
Northern prices have eased 2p/kg to 4p/kg in cases, with factories less willing to exceed quotes. Sellers with small numbers are facing base entry U-3 quotes of less than £3.50/kg, with sellers with numbers on offer securing a base of £3.50/kg to £3.52/kg. Sterling has continued to strengthen and at 88.6p to the euro on Wednesday, this equates to €4.17/kg to €4.20/kg, including VAT at 5.4%.
Top prices of £3.54/kg to £3.56/kg (€4.21/kg to €4.23/kg) have been paid at the top of the market for choice heifers. Cows are trading in general from £2.60/kg to £2.70/kg (€3.09/kg to €3.21/kg) for fleshed O grades, with heavy top-quality R and U grade continental cows rising to £2.90/kg to £2.95/kg (€3.45/kg to €3.51/kg).
British cattle prices have dipped slightly in response to higher throughput with prices easing 1p/kg to 2p/kg. R4L steers are trading from £3.85/kg to £3.87/kg on average (€4.58/kg to €4.60/kg incl VAT), with prices running 6p/kg to 10p/kg higher in Scotland than further south. Heifers are trading on average 2p/kg lower than steers.
Download the Irish Farmers Journal news app today and get the latest prices for all grades and all factories through the built-in Livestock Tool.
Read more
Flood hardship scheme must remain a priority
BETTER farm weaning efficiency league
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