Tensions are growing in the beef sector with opinions becoming increasingly divided. There are more farmers voicing their view that they need to get cattle killed.
Protesters at the gates remain resolute, with the likelihood of a standoff said to be increasing in many areas.
Dual producers in the west of the country looking to move stock are also being hit on the double, with sheep prevented from entering Kepak Athleague and Dawn Ballyhaunis.
With only a handful of plants operating at full capacity, last week’s kill plummeted to just 11,675 head.
This can be broken down into 5,180 steers, 2,755 heifers, 2,686 cows and 1,039 bulls (705 under 24 months).
There are now 67,259 fewer cattle killed in the last seven weeks since protests escalated compared with the corresponding period in 2018.
If a solution is not agreed this week and the kill remains at a similar level, this figure will increase to over 90,000 head.
Prices vary in the few plants which are processing. Most continue to purchase cattle on a base of €3.45/kg for steers and €3.55/kg for heifers, but there are now moves in some to reduce the base to €3.40/kg for steers and €3.50/kg for heifers.
Agents supplying these plants report they are being offered cattle from a widening supply pool every day.
Bull prices are static, with factories focusing on steer and heifer throughput first.
U grades range from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg on average, while R grades are moving from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg.
O grade bulls are meeting a more varied trade, with prices starting at €3.15/kg and rising to a top of €3.30/kg to €3.35/kg.
There are very few plants which are working interested in purchasing bulls less than 16 months on the grid.
Cow prices are steady, with prices ranging from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg for P+3 grades and €2.95/kg to €3.05/kg for O grades.
R grades are trading from €3.00/kg at the lower end of the market to €3.20/kg for heavy well-conformed cows.
The live trade is relatively firm given the issues in the dead trade. This is particularly true for weanlings, with live exporters very active in sourcing stock for Turkish and continental EU markets. This is keeping a floor under the trade for lighter bulls weighing 280kg to 350kg liveweight.
Supplies continue to come on stream in greater quantities, with Northern plants in turn increasing throughput.
Last week’s prime cattle kill increased from 6,604 to 7,387, which follows on from an increase of over 500 head in the previous week. Throughput for the year is largely unchanged.
Prices have steadied, with quotes ranging from £3.12/kg to £3.20/kg. This equates to €3.52/kg to €3.61/kg at 88.7p to the euro and €3.71/kg to €3.80/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Sellers trading at the top of the market are securing returns into the low-£3.20s, with heifers continuing to secure a premium.
There were reports last week of a surge in exports to Northern Ireland for direct slaughter.
However, the latest DAERA figures do not back up this statement, with numbers crossing the border rising just 41 to reach 281 head. Reports predict this figure to be higher this week. This level of exports is running lower than the corresponding week in 2018, where 390 cattle were exported north.
The latest AHDB price analysis shows British steer prices reducing on average by 1.4p/kg, with R4Ls averaging £3.36/kg (€3.99/kg), while average heifer prices fell by 2.7p/kg, with those grading R4L averaging £3.34/kg (€3.97/kg).
Read more
NI trends: cattle trade steadies as quotes harden; lamb quotes down
Tensions are growing in the beef sector with opinions becoming increasingly divided. There are more farmers voicing their view that they need to get cattle killed.
Protesters at the gates remain resolute, with the likelihood of a standoff said to be increasing in many areas.
Dual producers in the west of the country looking to move stock are also being hit on the double, with sheep prevented from entering Kepak Athleague and Dawn Ballyhaunis.
With only a handful of plants operating at full capacity, last week’s kill plummeted to just 11,675 head.
This can be broken down into 5,180 steers, 2,755 heifers, 2,686 cows and 1,039 bulls (705 under 24 months).
There are now 67,259 fewer cattle killed in the last seven weeks since protests escalated compared with the corresponding period in 2018.
If a solution is not agreed this week and the kill remains at a similar level, this figure will increase to over 90,000 head.
Prices vary in the few plants which are processing. Most continue to purchase cattle on a base of €3.45/kg for steers and €3.55/kg for heifers, but there are now moves in some to reduce the base to €3.40/kg for steers and €3.50/kg for heifers.
Agents supplying these plants report they are being offered cattle from a widening supply pool every day.
Bull prices are static, with factories focusing on steer and heifer throughput first.
U grades range from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg on average, while R grades are moving from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg.
O grade bulls are meeting a more varied trade, with prices starting at €3.15/kg and rising to a top of €3.30/kg to €3.35/kg.
There are very few plants which are working interested in purchasing bulls less than 16 months on the grid.
Cow prices are steady, with prices ranging from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg for P+3 grades and €2.95/kg to €3.05/kg for O grades.
R grades are trading from €3.00/kg at the lower end of the market to €3.20/kg for heavy well-conformed cows.
The live trade is relatively firm given the issues in the dead trade. This is particularly true for weanlings, with live exporters very active in sourcing stock for Turkish and continental EU markets. This is keeping a floor under the trade for lighter bulls weighing 280kg to 350kg liveweight.
Supplies continue to come on stream in greater quantities, with Northern plants in turn increasing throughput.
Last week’s prime cattle kill increased from 6,604 to 7,387, which follows on from an increase of over 500 head in the previous week. Throughput for the year is largely unchanged.
Prices have steadied, with quotes ranging from £3.12/kg to £3.20/kg. This equates to €3.52/kg to €3.61/kg at 88.7p to the euro and €3.71/kg to €3.80/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Sellers trading at the top of the market are securing returns into the low-£3.20s, with heifers continuing to secure a premium.
There were reports last week of a surge in exports to Northern Ireland for direct slaughter.
However, the latest DAERA figures do not back up this statement, with numbers crossing the border rising just 41 to reach 281 head. Reports predict this figure to be higher this week. This level of exports is running lower than the corresponding week in 2018, where 390 cattle were exported north.
The latest AHDB price analysis shows British steer prices reducing on average by 1.4p/kg, with R4Ls averaging £3.36/kg (€3.99/kg), while average heifer prices fell by 2.7p/kg, with those grading R4L averaging £3.34/kg (€3.97/kg).
Read more
NI trends: cattle trade steadies as quotes harden; lamb quotes down
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