The majority of steers and heifers are now trading at a base of €4.00/kg and €4.10/kg respectively.
There are small numbers trading 5c/kg higher, but these prices are much harder to achieve as the week progresses and are largely confined to specialist finishers and those handling large numbers.
Producers have witnessed prices falling by 15c/kg to 20c/kg in recent weeks and are now setting a steer base of €4.00/kg as the line in the sand they do not want to cross.
Factory agents have been helped in their efforts to reduce prices by a higher cow kill boosting supplies.
Last week’s kill of 33,889 head was on a par to the previous week, but there were differences among stock categories.
Cow throughput was recorded at 9,038 head, an increase of 587 on the previous week. Steer throughput was steady at 11,127 head, while heifer throughput increased 299 head to 8,865. Young bull throughput appears to have passed its seasonal peak, with last week’s bull kill falling 764 head to 4,302.
The spike in cow throughput is stemming primarily from dairy farmers moving lower-producing and problem cows earlier in the season to reduce feed demand.
There is a wide margin in prices paid to farmers now presenting small numbers and specialist finishers handling large numbers. Agents are quoting farmers with small numbers €3.10/kg to €3.20/kg for P+3 grades, €3.30/kg for O grades and €3.45/kg to €3.55/kg for R grades.
As can be seen in the Department’s price report, higher prices are demonstrated by the higher average price paid by plants. Poor-quality cows are meeting the most challenging trade, with light-carcase and poorly-fleshed cows coming straight from the parlour facing prices 50c/kg to 80ckg, and even greater, below this level.
In contrast, there is a relatively good demand for heavy R and U grading cows, with buyers sourcing cows for plants and wholesalers specialising in the trade still very active in direct farm sales and marts.
The lower young bull throughput has helped to lift demand and allow producers to move bulls quicker. Prices are also variable depending on numbers offered and the processor-producer relationship.
Bulls less than 16 months are trading, on average, on a base of €4.00/kg to €4.05/kg, with top prices reported of €4.10/kg, while there are a couple of plants trying to move to a base of €3.95/kg.
There are some reports of tighter restrictions on carcase weight and fat cover, so if in doubt, check all criteria and potential deductions before moving bulls.
Bulls aged over 16 months but less than 24 months are trading at €4.00/kg for R grades and €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg for U grades.
Northern trade
The northern trade is also under pressure, with plants reducing base quotes by 2p/kg to 4p/kg.
Most plants are quoting a U-3 base for steers and heifers of £3.56/kg to £3.58/kg or the equivalent of €4.04/kg to €4.06/kg and €4.26/kg to €4.28/kg VAT inclusive at 5.4%.
The ability to negotiate significantly higher prices has also been curtailed, with top prices rising to £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg (€4.30/kg to €4.33/kg incl VAT).
Meanwhile, the AHDB continues to report a steady British trade, with R4L steers and heifers averaging £3.83/kg (€4.58/kg). Bulls are also steady at £3.66/kg (€4.37/kg) for R3 grades, with O grading cows averaging £2.85/kg to £3.02/kg (€3.41/kg to €3.61/kg incl VAT).
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
Northern view: price pressure mounts as cattle supplies increase
The majority of steers and heifers are now trading at a base of €4.00/kg and €4.10/kg respectively.
There are small numbers trading 5c/kg higher, but these prices are much harder to achieve as the week progresses and are largely confined to specialist finishers and those handling large numbers.
Producers have witnessed prices falling by 15c/kg to 20c/kg in recent weeks and are now setting a steer base of €4.00/kg as the line in the sand they do not want to cross.
Factory agents have been helped in their efforts to reduce prices by a higher cow kill boosting supplies.
Last week’s kill of 33,889 head was on a par to the previous week, but there were differences among stock categories.
Cow throughput was recorded at 9,038 head, an increase of 587 on the previous week. Steer throughput was steady at 11,127 head, while heifer throughput increased 299 head to 8,865. Young bull throughput appears to have passed its seasonal peak, with last week’s bull kill falling 764 head to 4,302.
The spike in cow throughput is stemming primarily from dairy farmers moving lower-producing and problem cows earlier in the season to reduce feed demand.
There is a wide margin in prices paid to farmers now presenting small numbers and specialist finishers handling large numbers. Agents are quoting farmers with small numbers €3.10/kg to €3.20/kg for P+3 grades, €3.30/kg for O grades and €3.45/kg to €3.55/kg for R grades.
As can be seen in the Department’s price report, higher prices are demonstrated by the higher average price paid by plants. Poor-quality cows are meeting the most challenging trade, with light-carcase and poorly-fleshed cows coming straight from the parlour facing prices 50c/kg to 80ckg, and even greater, below this level.
In contrast, there is a relatively good demand for heavy R and U grading cows, with buyers sourcing cows for plants and wholesalers specialising in the trade still very active in direct farm sales and marts.
The lower young bull throughput has helped to lift demand and allow producers to move bulls quicker. Prices are also variable depending on numbers offered and the processor-producer relationship.
Bulls less than 16 months are trading, on average, on a base of €4.00/kg to €4.05/kg, with top prices reported of €4.10/kg, while there are a couple of plants trying to move to a base of €3.95/kg.
There are some reports of tighter restrictions on carcase weight and fat cover, so if in doubt, check all criteria and potential deductions before moving bulls.
Bulls aged over 16 months but less than 24 months are trading at €4.00/kg for R grades and €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg for U grades.
Northern trade
The northern trade is also under pressure, with plants reducing base quotes by 2p/kg to 4p/kg.
Most plants are quoting a U-3 base for steers and heifers of £3.56/kg to £3.58/kg or the equivalent of €4.04/kg to €4.06/kg and €4.26/kg to €4.28/kg VAT inclusive at 5.4%.
The ability to negotiate significantly higher prices has also been curtailed, with top prices rising to £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg (€4.30/kg to €4.33/kg incl VAT).
Meanwhile, the AHDB continues to report a steady British trade, with R4L steers and heifers averaging £3.83/kg (€4.58/kg). Bulls are also steady at £3.66/kg (€4.37/kg) for R3 grades, with O grading cows averaging £2.85/kg to £3.02/kg (€3.41/kg to €3.61/kg incl VAT).
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
Northern view: price pressure mounts as cattle supplies increase
SHARING OPTIONS