Farmers are moving into the driving seat as the beef trade heats up ahead of a busy month.

Beef quotes rose 10c/kg to 15c/kg this week as Christmas buying and Brexit stockpiling drive a very strong demand.

Smaller Christmas gatherings will boost roast beef demand, while the easing of COVID-19 restrictions for restaurants is also likely to drive buyers.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that UK supermarkets have sought assurances that Irish beef processors have contingency plans to cope with potential Brexit supply chain disruption from 1 January.

Cattle supplies in the UK are also very tight, driving further price increases there

Factories are starting to stockpile chilled beef in the UK for the January market.

The increased demand comes as the number of Irish cattle ready for processing falls. Last week’s cattle kill fell to 36,837, a reduction of almost 2,500 head on the previous week.

Cattle supplies in the UK are also very tight, driving further price increases there.

With the British price at the equivalent of €4.55/kg including VAT for R grading steers, the British-Irish price differential stands at almost €250/head.

The Northern Ireland beef trade is also driving ahead, with R4L bullocks hitting £3.75 (€4.42/kg including VAT). This equates to a €198/head price differential between the North and the Republic of Ireland.

Live exports of cattle for slaughter in the North rose to 483 last week, a hike of 130 on the previous week.