Strong factory appetite for slaughter-fit stock and high levels of throughput remain the standout features of the beef trade.
Last week’s beef kill edged even closer to 40,000 head, rising 563 head to 39,826. The lift came despite steer throughput reducing 984 head to 13,976.
The number of bulls coming on stream from specialist finishers continues to rise, with last week’s kill increasing 1,088 head to 5,540, while heifer throughput also lifted 491 head to 10,794.
With plants eager to maximise throughput, prices are solid, with a high percentage of steers and heifers trading at a base of €3.85/kg and €3.95/kg respectively.
Sellers with greater negotiating power and trading at the top end of the market are having more success in achieving a base of €4.00/kg for heifers and while deals are fewer in frequency than for heifers, there are farmers achieving a base of €3.90/kg for steers.
Likewise, there are small numbers moving from sellers with low negotiating power below the levels quoted, but sellers should note that this is becoming the exception, so bargain hard to achieve the best possible return.
There is also a wider differential in bull prices, with higher numbers coming from specialist finishers who are capable of securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.
The top prices reported for U grade bulls range from €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, while sellers handling low numbers are reporting a price of €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg.
A similar trend is evident for R and O grading bulls. R grades are selling from €3.85/kg to €3.95/kg, with a number of deals also reported at €3.95/kg for mixed lots of R and U grading bulls.
O grades are starting at €3.70/kg and rising to €3.85/kg for large lots of fleshed O=/+ grading bulls.
Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.
Cow prices are steady, but vary significantly depending on numbers and the plant purchasing.
Heavy well-fleshed R grading cows are selling from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg, with 5c/kg extra going to those handling large numbers in cow-specialist plants, while the entry price is back to €3.45/kg in plants with lower interest.
Likewise, fleshed O grading cows are selling anywhere from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg, with P+3 grading cows starting at €3.00/kg to €3.05/kg and rising to €3.15/kg to €3.20/kg.
Stronger British trade
The British trade continues to build momentum on the back of rising demand. The AHDB reports last week’s R4L heifer prices rising 3.3p/kg on average to £3.78/kg, which is the equivalent of €4.28/kg at 88.3p to the euro and €4.51/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
The R4L steer price increased 0.5p to the same average price as heifers of £3.78/kg. Prices are running 7.5p/kg above the five-year average for this time of year.
Meanwhile, R3 young bull prices are reported by the AHDB at an average of £3.61/kg (€4.31/kg incl VAT at 5.4%), up 1.9p/kg on the previous week.
Cow prices have steadied, with O4L cows recording a lift of 0.7p/kg to £2.60/kg (€3.10/kg incl VAT).
The northern trade is also robust. U3- base steer and heifer quotes remain at a range of £3.52/kg to £3.54/kg (€4.20/kg to €4.23/kg incl VAT).
Regular sellers are starting at a higher base, reflected in last week’s U3 steer price averaging £3.60/kg (€4.30/kg) and heifer price averaging £3.63/kg (€4.33/kg).
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
Is the writing on the wall for the Irish suckler cow?
Target GLAS underspend at sucklers and disadvantaged areas – McConalogue
Strong factory appetite for slaughter-fit stock and high levels of throughput remain the standout features of the beef trade.
Last week’s beef kill edged even closer to 40,000 head, rising 563 head to 39,826. The lift came despite steer throughput reducing 984 head to 13,976.
The number of bulls coming on stream from specialist finishers continues to rise, with last week’s kill increasing 1,088 head to 5,540, while heifer throughput also lifted 491 head to 10,794.
With plants eager to maximise throughput, prices are solid, with a high percentage of steers and heifers trading at a base of €3.85/kg and €3.95/kg respectively.
Sellers with greater negotiating power and trading at the top end of the market are having more success in achieving a base of €4.00/kg for heifers and while deals are fewer in frequency than for heifers, there are farmers achieving a base of €3.90/kg for steers.
Likewise, there are small numbers moving from sellers with low negotiating power below the levels quoted, but sellers should note that this is becoming the exception, so bargain hard to achieve the best possible return.
There is also a wider differential in bull prices, with higher numbers coming from specialist finishers who are capable of securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.
The top prices reported for U grade bulls range from €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, while sellers handling low numbers are reporting a price of €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg.
A similar trend is evident for R and O grading bulls. R grades are selling from €3.85/kg to €3.95/kg, with a number of deals also reported at €3.95/kg for mixed lots of R and U grading bulls.
O grades are starting at €3.70/kg and rising to €3.85/kg for large lots of fleshed O=/+ grading bulls.
Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.
Cow prices are steady, but vary significantly depending on numbers and the plant purchasing.
Heavy well-fleshed R grading cows are selling from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg, with 5c/kg extra going to those handling large numbers in cow-specialist plants, while the entry price is back to €3.45/kg in plants with lower interest.
Likewise, fleshed O grading cows are selling anywhere from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg, with P+3 grading cows starting at €3.00/kg to €3.05/kg and rising to €3.15/kg to €3.20/kg.
Stronger British trade
The British trade continues to build momentum on the back of rising demand. The AHDB reports last week’s R4L heifer prices rising 3.3p/kg on average to £3.78/kg, which is the equivalent of €4.28/kg at 88.3p to the euro and €4.51/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
The R4L steer price increased 0.5p to the same average price as heifers of £3.78/kg. Prices are running 7.5p/kg above the five-year average for this time of year.
Meanwhile, R3 young bull prices are reported by the AHDB at an average of £3.61/kg (€4.31/kg incl VAT at 5.4%), up 1.9p/kg on the previous week.
Cow prices have steadied, with O4L cows recording a lift of 0.7p/kg to £2.60/kg (€3.10/kg incl VAT).
The northern trade is also robust. U3- base steer and heifer quotes remain at a range of £3.52/kg to £3.54/kg (€4.20/kg to €4.23/kg incl VAT).
Regular sellers are starting at a higher base, reflected in last week’s U3 steer price averaging £3.60/kg (€4.30/kg) and heifer price averaging £3.63/kg (€4.33/kg).
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
Is the writing on the wall for the Irish suckler cow?
Target GLAS underspend at sucklers and disadvantaged areas – McConalogue
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