As factories prepare for the final two weeks of slaughtering for 2020, €3.80/kg is a little harder to get on Monday.

Most of the main processors continue to kill for three days this week and are still anxious for stock.

However, some processors have highlighted issues with product caught in the south of England unable to board ferries at Dover Port or enter the channel tunnel for passage to the EU market.

There are currently over 200 lorries waiting in the UK to continue their journey to Europe.

Crisis

In response to the crisis, Stena Line has added an additional boat to its Rosslare to Cherbourg route commencing on Tuesday.

Stena Line will now have two ships departing from Rosslare on Tuesday direct to Cherbourg.

These will be important in getting product to the EU market.

It’s important to note that there are currently no restrictions in shipping product to the UK, our largest market.

Lockdown in the UK will also drive retail demand further upwards in the coming weeks.

Bullock and heifer prices

Bullocks are generally trading at €3.70/kg, with €3.75/kg the going rate for heifers for most of this week.

There are higher prices being paid, but they are less common this week and are mostly going to bigger suppliers who are supplying cattle on a weekly basis.

Up to 20c/kg bonuses are still available for Angus and Hereford stock.

Foyle Meats in Donegal is also paying a 10c/kg supermarket-spec bonus of 10c/kg for bullocks and heifers killing out between 300kg and 380kg carcase weight.

Bulls are generally moving off €3.70/kg for R grades, with 5c/kg more for U grading bulls.

Under-16-month bulls are generally moving at €3.65/kg.

Cow trade

Cows are a little easier in the trade, with a few factories reducing the cow kill this week due to boning out capacity at the end of the week.

Good R grading cows are still in demand and getting quoted €3.20/kg. Plainer O grading cows are back at €3/kg, with P grading cows around €2.90/kg.

In a normal year, the last refrigerated lorries would have gone out Wednesday morning to be back on Christmas Eve for the festive break.

It’s understood that more activity will be seen this Christmas, with lorries drafted in to continue shipping product over the Christmas period.

Most factories have planned to kill three days next week in a bid to further increase shipment of product into the UK prior to 31 December deadline.