There was a bumper beef kill of 37,452 head last week as farmers pushed to get cattle moved quicker due to deteriorating ground conditions. The last time the kill reached this level was in autumn 2014 in the week following the first beef factory blockade.
The kill is 2,346 head higher than the corresponding week in 2016.
While numbers are well up, the volume of beef is unlikely to be lifting
There are also some significant differences in the categories of animals processed, with steers making up over 50% of last week’s kill, at 19,158 head.
This is 2,788 head above the comparable 2016 levels.
The cow kill, at 6,753 head, is 1,429 lower as dairy farmers strive to maximise returns by milking cows identified for culling for longer. The cumulative kill, at 1.27m head, is running 84,226 head above 2016 levels.
Factories are using higher numbers coming on stream to try to put some downward pressure on price with some plants this week trying to lower quotes by 5c/kg.
As yet, however, prices have not moved greatly, with most factories happy to handle higher numbers. Steers are split on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with more difficulty in recent days in exceeding this level. Heifers are selling in general on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg, with top prices of €3.92/kg to €3.95/kg paid earlier in the week.
Bull prices are relatively unchanged, although some plants are also trying to ease prices back. R grades are selling on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with some making up to €3.85/kg. Some finishers have secured a flat price of €3.90/kg for mixed R and U grading lots while specialist finishers with strong factory relationships continue negotiate 5c/kg to 10c/kg more.
The lower cow kill is helping to keep a floor under prices, with demand still reported as being strong in mart sales where agents and feeders handling large numbers are very active.
P+3 grading cows are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.25/kg, with fleshed O grading cows selling from €3.20/kg to €3.25/kg for lesser-quality O- grading types to €3.35/kg for better quality O+ grading cows. R grades are selling from €3.35/kg to €3.45/kg in general, with u grades rising to €3.60/kg in cow specialist plants.
Lower volumes
While numbers are well up, the volume of beef is unlikely to be lifting on a pro-rata basis with the breed profile of the kill changing as Friesian and traditionally bred animals from the dairy herd grow in numbers.
Many agents in western and northern regions predict numbers from these regions tightening significantly in the coming weeks, saying that a high percentage of farmers have made the decision to house or sell.
Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland trade has steadied after last week’s hardening in price.
U-3 base quotes range from £3.48/kg at the bottom of the market to £3.54/kg, with regular sellers trading at the top of the market securing prices rising into the high £3.50s.
Sterling has fluctuated slightly since the start of the week and, at Wednesday afternoon’s rate of 88.7p, this equates to €4.14/kg to €4.21/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Last week’s northern prime kill also increased, rising 485 head to 7,014 while the cow kill fell 239 to 2,379.
AHDB reports British beef prices easing on average by 1p to 2p/kg last week. R4L steers are reported as selling at £3.86/kg (€4.59/kg), with heifers 1p/kg lower.
Cow prices are steady, with O4L cows selling on average for £2.77/kg (€3.30/kg).
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
Gove on top of his brief for now
Lessons from the Ploughing
€110 profit gap divides five and two-star cows at Grange
There was a bumper beef kill of 37,452 head last week as farmers pushed to get cattle moved quicker due to deteriorating ground conditions. The last time the kill reached this level was in autumn 2014 in the week following the first beef factory blockade.
The kill is 2,346 head higher than the corresponding week in 2016.
While numbers are well up, the volume of beef is unlikely to be lifting
There are also some significant differences in the categories of animals processed, with steers making up over 50% of last week’s kill, at 19,158 head.
This is 2,788 head above the comparable 2016 levels.
The cow kill, at 6,753 head, is 1,429 lower as dairy farmers strive to maximise returns by milking cows identified for culling for longer. The cumulative kill, at 1.27m head, is running 84,226 head above 2016 levels.
Factories are using higher numbers coming on stream to try to put some downward pressure on price with some plants this week trying to lower quotes by 5c/kg.
As yet, however, prices have not moved greatly, with most factories happy to handle higher numbers. Steers are split on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with more difficulty in recent days in exceeding this level. Heifers are selling in general on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg, with top prices of €3.92/kg to €3.95/kg paid earlier in the week.
Bull prices are relatively unchanged, although some plants are also trying to ease prices back. R grades are selling on a base of €3.75/kg to €3.80/kg, with some making up to €3.85/kg. Some finishers have secured a flat price of €3.90/kg for mixed R and U grading lots while specialist finishers with strong factory relationships continue negotiate 5c/kg to 10c/kg more.
The lower cow kill is helping to keep a floor under prices, with demand still reported as being strong in mart sales where agents and feeders handling large numbers are very active.
P+3 grading cows are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.25/kg, with fleshed O grading cows selling from €3.20/kg to €3.25/kg for lesser-quality O- grading types to €3.35/kg for better quality O+ grading cows. R grades are selling from €3.35/kg to €3.45/kg in general, with u grades rising to €3.60/kg in cow specialist plants.
Lower volumes
While numbers are well up, the volume of beef is unlikely to be lifting on a pro-rata basis with the breed profile of the kill changing as Friesian and traditionally bred animals from the dairy herd grow in numbers.
Many agents in western and northern regions predict numbers from these regions tightening significantly in the coming weeks, saying that a high percentage of farmers have made the decision to house or sell.
Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland trade has steadied after last week’s hardening in price.
U-3 base quotes range from £3.48/kg at the bottom of the market to £3.54/kg, with regular sellers trading at the top of the market securing prices rising into the high £3.50s.
Sterling has fluctuated slightly since the start of the week and, at Wednesday afternoon’s rate of 88.7p, this equates to €4.14/kg to €4.21/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Last week’s northern prime kill also increased, rising 485 head to 7,014 while the cow kill fell 239 to 2,379.
AHDB reports British beef prices easing on average by 1p to 2p/kg last week. R4L steers are reported as selling at £3.86/kg (€4.59/kg), with heifers 1p/kg lower.
Cow prices are steady, with O4L cows selling on average for £2.77/kg (€3.30/kg).
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
Gove on top of his brief for now
Lessons from the Ploughing
€110 profit gap divides five and two-star cows at Grange
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