This week’s quotes for heifers remain unchanged at €3.65/kg for in-spec animals, with bullocks trading 5c/kg behind at €3.60/kg base before any in-spec or QPS bonuses are paid.
There are still some reports of €3.70/kg being paid for heifers where numbers and quality are in the mix. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle are still in demand, with bonuses of 10c to 15c/kg available for suitable cattle.
Bull trade
It’s a similar story in the bull trade as well this week, with under-16-month bulls trading off €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg on the grid.
Older R grading bulls are at €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg, with U grades coming in on average 10c/kg higher at €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg. There still appears to be some scope around no penalties on heavy bulls.
Lesser-grading dairy-cross bulls are generally trading at €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg.
Cow trade
The cow trade is also similar to last week, with P+3 cows trading at €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg. O grading cows are generally moving at €3.10/kg to €3.15/kg, with good R and U grading cows trading for as high as €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg in some plants, depending on numbers and quality.
Cows lacking flesh are at the lower end of the pricing scale.
Factory feedlots have increased activity over the last seven to 10 days, purchasing store and forward cattle for further finishing. Agents are mostly in the market for Aberdeen Angus and Hereford animals.
Northern data
The Northern Ireland Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) released data at the weekend pointing to very strong retail sales of beef over the 12 weeks up until 6 September 2020.
The data shows that retail sales of primary beef in the UK were valued at £479.2m during the same period, representing a 13.8% increase on the corresponding period in 2019.
Mince continues to account for over 50% of primary beef sales in the UK. There was a 5.2% increase in volume sales during the 12-week period.
Retail sales of roasting joints saw the biggest rise, with a 30% increase in value terms and a 20% increase in volume terms over the period.
The fact that these figures include the August period of the 'eat out to help out' scheme, which encouraged consumers to eat out in the food service sector, could point to a very positive autumn/winter for retail beef sales in the UK.
While the increase in sales won’t be enough to counterbalance the fall-off in the food service sector demand, it does point to changing consumer trends, especially in the roasting joint category, an area that had been under pressure prior to 2020.
The excellent retail trade across the water would be one of the main reasons why beef is such a good trade in Northern Ireland, with the knock-on effect of record numbers of Republic of Ireland live cattle being exported north of the border so far in 2020.
Read more
In pictures: in-calf heifers sell to €4,350 at Elphin Mart
Quiz: Thrive finishing cattle weights and grades
In pictures: almost full clearance in Carrigallen
This week’s quotes for heifers remain unchanged at €3.65/kg for in-spec animals, with bullocks trading 5c/kg behind at €3.60/kg base before any in-spec or QPS bonuses are paid.
There are still some reports of €3.70/kg being paid for heifers where numbers and quality are in the mix. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle are still in demand, with bonuses of 10c to 15c/kg available for suitable cattle.
Bull trade
It’s a similar story in the bull trade as well this week, with under-16-month bulls trading off €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg on the grid.
Older R grading bulls are at €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg, with U grades coming in on average 10c/kg higher at €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg. There still appears to be some scope around no penalties on heavy bulls.
Lesser-grading dairy-cross bulls are generally trading at €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg.
Cow trade
The cow trade is also similar to last week, with P+3 cows trading at €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg. O grading cows are generally moving at €3.10/kg to €3.15/kg, with good R and U grading cows trading for as high as €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg in some plants, depending on numbers and quality.
Cows lacking flesh are at the lower end of the pricing scale.
Factory feedlots have increased activity over the last seven to 10 days, purchasing store and forward cattle for further finishing. Agents are mostly in the market for Aberdeen Angus and Hereford animals.
Northern data
The Northern Ireland Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) released data at the weekend pointing to very strong retail sales of beef over the 12 weeks up until 6 September 2020.
The data shows that retail sales of primary beef in the UK were valued at £479.2m during the same period, representing a 13.8% increase on the corresponding period in 2019.
Mince continues to account for over 50% of primary beef sales in the UK. There was a 5.2% increase in volume sales during the 12-week period.
Retail sales of roasting joints saw the biggest rise, with a 30% increase in value terms and a 20% increase in volume terms over the period.
The fact that these figures include the August period of the 'eat out to help out' scheme, which encouraged consumers to eat out in the food service sector, could point to a very positive autumn/winter for retail beef sales in the UK.
While the increase in sales won’t be enough to counterbalance the fall-off in the food service sector demand, it does point to changing consumer trends, especially in the roasting joint category, an area that had been under pressure prior to 2020.
The excellent retail trade across the water would be one of the main reasons why beef is such a good trade in Northern Ireland, with the knock-on effect of record numbers of Republic of Ireland live cattle being exported north of the border so far in 2020.
Read more
In pictures: in-calf heifers sell to €4,350 at Elphin Mart
Quiz: Thrive finishing cattle weights and grades
In pictures: almost full clearance in Carrigallen
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