High throughput continues to be a standout feature of the beef trade. Last week’s kill increased by 316 head to reach 39,112 with throughput for the last seven weeks averaging 38,665. This compares to a kill of 36,141 for the corresponding week in 2017 and an average of 36,767 head or a total of 13,281 head lower for the same seven-week period.

The higher weekly kill brings total throughput for the year-to-date to 51,086 head higher. Steer throughput is actually running 13,625 head lower at 538,567 but a switch to bull beef production and young bull throughput rising by 15,020 head to reach 162,793 cancels this reduction.

Biggest lift

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Heifer throughput recorded the greatest lift of 23,006 head (to 386,559), while cow throughput lifted by a similar volume of 21,161 head (to 318,095). An additional 2,911 aged bulls and 2,685 calves make up the increase.

Meanwhile, live exports continue to perform strongly with the latest records showing exports of 2,996 head for the week ending 13 October running 1,577 above the same week in 2017. Total exports of 216,006 head are running 49,106 head higher.

IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said specific proposals on credit insurance have been put to the Minister for Agriculture “to assist the live export trade”.