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Beef cattle forecasts compiled by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) show significantly fewer animals in the 24- to 30-month age bracket on farms across NI when compared to last year.
The data reflects all male and female cattle destined for beef production originating from suckler and dairy herds.
As of 31 July, there were 118,546 beef cattle in the 24 to 30-month age bracket, down 7.8%, or approximately 10,000 head on last year.
While a proportion of these animals will have been processed in August, a large percentage of the beef kill this autumn will come from animals in the outlined age bracket.
Beef-bred steers aged 24 to 30 months are down 12.1%, with beef-sired heifers down 5%. Dairy-bred beef animals in the same age group are down 5%.
Cattle aged 30 months and over are down 0.9%, or approximately 1,300 head. However, there is a 2% increase in beef animals aged 18 to 24 months, equating to an additional 2,200 animals.
With the NI cattle kill to the week ending 15 August running ahead of last year, higher throughput and fewer cattle forecast for autumn could underpin the beef trade over the coming months.
Britain
In Britain, the Agriculture and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) reports the prime cattle kill is expected to contract by 2% or around 50,000 head on last year.
According to AHDB, there were 75,000 (5%) fewer beef cattle aged 12 to 30 months standing on farms in the spring which is giving optimism for firm prices this autumn.
Current prices
Meanwhile, local processors have jumped at the chance to pull beef quotes by 4p/kg to 6p/kg this week. However, reports from farmers selling cattle on a regular basis are prices are relatively steady at 370p/kg and upwards for in-spec animals.
With high prices for store cattle in marts, and an abundance of silage on farms, many farmers report they are housing animals for further feeding where grazing conditions are difficult or are selling live.
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