High throughput remains a dominant feature of the beef trade. Last week’s kill increased by 870 head to reach 38,570, although when an additional 239 calves processed (total 307 calves) are deducted, it is more accurate to describe the kill as increasing by 631 head.

The driver of increased throughput was an additional 514 steers processed (11,773), with prices unchanged at a base of €3.75/kg. The heifer kill reduced slightly by 177 head, but at 11,497 heifers is running well ahead of previous years’ levels. Base price remains at €3.85/kg.

Cows are steady, with throughput rising 143 head to 7,981, with factories continuing to manage throughput and plants processing variable numbers.

Prices are also unchanged, with P+3 grades ranging from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg, while O grading cows range from €2.80/kg to €2.85/kg on average.

There is also little change in the trade for R grading cows, with prices averaging around the €3.00/kg mark in many plants and rising to €3.10/kg to €3.15/kg in cow-specialist plants for heavy carcase cows.

A similar trend continues for U grading cows, with prices ranging primarily between €3.10/kg and €3.20/kg, but, as the table shows, higher prices have been secured.

Bulls continue to face the greatest challenges, with higher numbers on the verge of hitting the 24-month age bracket. This is reflected in the kill concerning bulls over 24 months rising 130 head to 523 last week, while throughput of bulls less than 16 months is constant for the third week running at 6,447.

Prices continue to face downward price pressure, with even more variability in prices paid between and even within plants entering the trade.

Plants most active in the trade continue to quote a starting price of €3.55/kg to €3.60/kg for R grading bulls and €3.65/kg to €3.70/kg for U grading bulls.

However, these prices quickly come under pressure when carcase weights are taken into account, with deductions of 10c/kg to 15c/kg introduced in some plants at 430kg to 440kg, with some operating another layer of penalties for carcases exceeding 470kg to 480kg.

Fat cover has not been an issue on continental bulls, with many undergoing a longer than envisaged feeding period due to processing delays.

It has been an issue for a selection of Friesian bulls, with prices deductions of 10c/kg to 20c/kg for bulls recording fat class 2-/2=. Prices for Friesian bulls average €3.35/kg to €3.45/kg, but as low as €3.25/kg has been quoted.

Northern trade

The northern trade has weakened, with finishers finding it harder to negotiate significantly above the U-3 base quote range of £3.40/kg to £3.44/kg.

This is the equivalent of €3.88/kg to €3.93/kg at 87.6p to the euro and €4.09/kg to €4.14/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

Last week’s throughput was unchanged at 7,058 prime cattle, while cow throughput increased by over 100 head to 1,932.

The latest LMC report shows last week’s average U-3 base quote at £3.49/kg (€4.20/kg), with heifers 3p/kg higher at £3.53/kg (€4.25/kg). R3 steers and heifers average 2p/kg lower, while O3 grading cows averaged £2.49/kg (€3.00/kg), R3 grades averaged £2.59/kg (€3.12/kg) and U grades averaged £2.70/kg (€3.25/kg).

The number of cattle travelling north for direct slaughter reduced from a high of 620 a fortnight ago to 360 head last week.

Meanwhile, British beef prices have steadied, with the AHDB reporting the average R4L steer trading for £3.61/kg (€4.34/kg) and heifers 2p/kg lower.