Factory throughput this week has been pushed to peak capacity as winter weather takes hold. This week the beef kill could rise to 40,000 head.

Heavy rainfall in the east of the country and another 20mm forecast on Friday has increased the intensity of slaughter-fit cattle moving off farms. There has also been a rise in cull cow throughput as dairy farmers move to ease grazing pressure.

While cull cows are facing some price pressure, steer and heifer quotes are largely steady on a base of €3.75/kg and €3.85/kg. Throughput continues to rise on the back of an expanding dairy herd, which now stands at over 1.4m cows, and looks set to far exceed 2017 levels. The year-to-date kill of 1.48m head is running 52,096 head higher.

In marts, the average price paid for short-keep and forward stores slipped by €40-€50/head due to a reduction in the quality on offer and slightly reduced buyer activity for plainer stock.

However, the arrival of winter in the west and north of the country is six to eight weeks later than it was last year.

The additional weeks outdoors will help to increase national fodder reserves and alleviate the impact of the drought on grass growth over the summer. The fodder deficit will cost dairy farmers €400/cow, according to Teagasc.

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