The beef trade remains in a good position from a producer’s perspective. Factory agents are very anxious for cattle and supplies are tightening.
Last week’s kill increased by 1,756 head to 31,197, after falling by a similar figure in the previous week with one day’s less processing.
However, agents had to work much harder to source this level of throughput and were also forced to increase prices paid to secure sales.
This trend has followed through to this week, with a rising number of sellers negotiating a base of €4.20/kg for steers and €4.30/kg for heifers.
There is also much more competition between plants with agents actively contacting feeders.
There are still cattle moving at a 5c/kg lower base, but numbers are reducing by the day.
Likewise, there are small numbers starting to push prices upwards, with deals completed at a base of €4.32/kg for heifers, while allowances have also been given in greater frequency to cover transport costs.
The increased kill breaks down into 689 extra steers, 504 young bulls, 146 bulls over 24 months, 291 heifers and 131 calves.
The young bull kill is being boosted by bulls approaching 16 months of age and being moved in greater frequency. Grid quotes are similar to steers, with the majority now trading from a base of €4.20/kg. This excludes the 12c/kg bonus for bulls ticking on all the boxes, including quality assurance, fat cover and farm movements.
More success
Specialist finishers are also having more success on prices paid, with finishers starting to push prices for good-quality U grading bulls to €4.28/kg to €4.30/kg, with others trading at €4.25/kg.
R grading bulls are trading for €4.20/kg, with sellers still having success in pushing prices higher where bulls on offer are mainly U grades.
Friesian bulls traded in high numbers also continue to command a premium, with O grades ranging from €3.90/kg to €4.10/kg.
Many people are of the opinion that the cow kill is running well ahead of previous years’ levels given the high numbers presented in marts. However, it is likely that this is stemming from farmers opting to present cows to take advantage of higher competition and a firm trade, with annual throughput running just 5,409 head above 2017 comparable levels.
There is also the potential that some of these could be heading for further feeding and contribute to a higher kill later in the year.
Prices are strong, with P+3 grades trading anywhere from €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg, while O grades are moving from an even wider differential of €3.55/kg to in excess of €3.70/kg.
R grades are selling on average from €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg, but up to €3.90/kg has been paid for heavy fleshed cows, while U grades are trading at a similar range, with top prices rising to €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg.
Rising NI trade
There is also more bite in the Northern Ireland trade, with prices rising by up to 4p/kg.
Base U-3 steer and heifer quotes have moved up to £3.62/kg to £3.64/kg or the equivalent of €4.12/kg to €4.15/kg at 87.8p to the euro or €4.34/kg to €4.37/kg VAT inclusive at 5.4%.
Sellers with greater negotiating power are pushing prices to £3.70/kg (€4.44/kg incl VAT), while specialist producers trading at the top end of the market are pushing prices to the mid-£3.70s or higher.
British R4L steer and heifer prices are solid at an average of £3.80/kg (€4.56/kg).
Read more
Farmers securing improved price deals for cattle
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
The beef trade remains in a good position from a producer’s perspective. Factory agents are very anxious for cattle and supplies are tightening.
Last week’s kill increased by 1,756 head to 31,197, after falling by a similar figure in the previous week with one day’s less processing.
However, agents had to work much harder to source this level of throughput and were also forced to increase prices paid to secure sales.
This trend has followed through to this week, with a rising number of sellers negotiating a base of €4.20/kg for steers and €4.30/kg for heifers.
There is also much more competition between plants with agents actively contacting feeders.
There are still cattle moving at a 5c/kg lower base, but numbers are reducing by the day.
Likewise, there are small numbers starting to push prices upwards, with deals completed at a base of €4.32/kg for heifers, while allowances have also been given in greater frequency to cover transport costs.
The increased kill breaks down into 689 extra steers, 504 young bulls, 146 bulls over 24 months, 291 heifers and 131 calves.
The young bull kill is being boosted by bulls approaching 16 months of age and being moved in greater frequency. Grid quotes are similar to steers, with the majority now trading from a base of €4.20/kg. This excludes the 12c/kg bonus for bulls ticking on all the boxes, including quality assurance, fat cover and farm movements.
More success
Specialist finishers are also having more success on prices paid, with finishers starting to push prices for good-quality U grading bulls to €4.28/kg to €4.30/kg, with others trading at €4.25/kg.
R grading bulls are trading for €4.20/kg, with sellers still having success in pushing prices higher where bulls on offer are mainly U grades.
Friesian bulls traded in high numbers also continue to command a premium, with O grades ranging from €3.90/kg to €4.10/kg.
Many people are of the opinion that the cow kill is running well ahead of previous years’ levels given the high numbers presented in marts. However, it is likely that this is stemming from farmers opting to present cows to take advantage of higher competition and a firm trade, with annual throughput running just 5,409 head above 2017 comparable levels.
There is also the potential that some of these could be heading for further feeding and contribute to a higher kill later in the year.
Prices are strong, with P+3 grades trading anywhere from €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg, while O grades are moving from an even wider differential of €3.55/kg to in excess of €3.70/kg.
R grades are selling on average from €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg, but up to €3.90/kg has been paid for heavy fleshed cows, while U grades are trading at a similar range, with top prices rising to €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg.
Rising NI trade
There is also more bite in the Northern Ireland trade, with prices rising by up to 4p/kg.
Base U-3 steer and heifer quotes have moved up to £3.62/kg to £3.64/kg or the equivalent of €4.12/kg to €4.15/kg at 87.8p to the euro or €4.34/kg to €4.37/kg VAT inclusive at 5.4%.
Sellers with greater negotiating power are pushing prices to £3.70/kg (€4.44/kg incl VAT), while specialist producers trading at the top end of the market are pushing prices to the mid-£3.70s or higher.
British R4L steer and heifer prices are solid at an average of £3.80/kg (€4.56/kg).
Read more
Farmers securing improved price deals for cattle
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
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