The beef trade continues to gain slow upward movement, with agents anxious not to miss out on any deals. This is particularly the case for producers with large numbers on hand or trading regularly. This is leading to a wider gap developing between average and top prices paid.
A high percentage of steers are trading from a base of €4.10/kg, with regular sellers securing a base of €4.15/kg. At the very top of the market, a base of €4.18/kg to €4.20/kg has been paid to specialist finishers supplying big numbers.
A similar trend is evident for heifers, with the majority trading from €4.15/kg to €4.20/kg and small numbers up to a base of €4.25/kg.
The weekly kill continues to reduce, with last week’s throughput falling 1,040 head to 31,223. This was driven by 833 fewer steers and 450 less heifers processed, while the young bull kill increased from 3,245 to 3,500 and calf throughput rose from 113 head to 205.
The cow kill was steady at 7,098, but supplies are tightening and this has been evident in mart sales in recent days.
Agents remain keen to use cows to prop up throughput, with prices remaining 30c/kg to 35c/kg above last year’s levels.
This also shows the strength in demand for manufacturing beef, with large numbers of Friesian steers and bulls capable of punching well above their weight on price.
A wide differential also remains between cow prices in plants most active in the trade and those with low levels of interest.
P+3 grading cows are selling, in general, from €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg, but up to €3.50/kg has been paid in recent days for deals involving large numbers.
Likewise, O grading cows are selling anywhere from €3.40/kg to €3.60/kg, while R and U grading cows are trading from €3.60/kg to €3.80/kg, with the spread of prices detailed in the Department’s table of last week’s prices.
The general run of prices for young bulls is €4.10/kg to €4.15/kg for R and U grading bulls, but top prices are rising to €4.20/kg and possibly a little more in recent days. O grading Friesian bulls are trading from €3.85/kg to €4.00/kg.
Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling from a base of €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, with some regular sellers in a stronger negotiating position securing 2c/kg to 5c/kg extra.
Northern trade
While some plants are trying to open negotiations at a base of £3.58/kg, the reality is the majority of deals for steers and heifers are opening at a U-3 base of £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg. This is the equivalent of €4.11/kg to €4.14/kg at 87.5p to the euro and €4.34/kg to €4.36/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
There is a rising percentage of cattle trading from regular sellers off a base of £3.64/kg to £3.66/kg (€4.38 to €4.40/kg), while specialist producers handling large numbers and those supplying on a weekly or fortnightly basis are pushing prices towards a U-3 base of £3.70/kg (€4.45/kg) for steers and heifers.
Fleshed O grading cows remain at a range of £2.85/kg to £3.00/kg (€3.43/kg to €3.61/kg), with good R grading cows rising to £3.15/kg (€3.79/kg) and higher.
British beef prices continue to increase very slowly, rising by 1p/kg to 2p/kg in recent weeks.
The AHDB reports average R4L steers and heifers at £3.77/kg to £3.78/kg (€4.55/kg to €4.56/kg). Young bull prices have increased by 2.8p, with R3 young bulls averaging £3.61/kg (€4.35/kg), while cows are steady at an O_3 price of £2.97/kg (€3.58/kg).
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Beef prices harden as cattle supplies tighten
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The beef trade continues to gain slow upward movement, with agents anxious not to miss out on any deals. This is particularly the case for producers with large numbers on hand or trading regularly. This is leading to a wider gap developing between average and top prices paid.
A high percentage of steers are trading from a base of €4.10/kg, with regular sellers securing a base of €4.15/kg. At the very top of the market, a base of €4.18/kg to €4.20/kg has been paid to specialist finishers supplying big numbers.
A similar trend is evident for heifers, with the majority trading from €4.15/kg to €4.20/kg and small numbers up to a base of €4.25/kg.
The weekly kill continues to reduce, with last week’s throughput falling 1,040 head to 31,223. This was driven by 833 fewer steers and 450 less heifers processed, while the young bull kill increased from 3,245 to 3,500 and calf throughput rose from 113 head to 205.
The cow kill was steady at 7,098, but supplies are tightening and this has been evident in mart sales in recent days.
Agents remain keen to use cows to prop up throughput, with prices remaining 30c/kg to 35c/kg above last year’s levels.
This also shows the strength in demand for manufacturing beef, with large numbers of Friesian steers and bulls capable of punching well above their weight on price.
A wide differential also remains between cow prices in plants most active in the trade and those with low levels of interest.
P+3 grading cows are selling, in general, from €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg, but up to €3.50/kg has been paid in recent days for deals involving large numbers.
Likewise, O grading cows are selling anywhere from €3.40/kg to €3.60/kg, while R and U grading cows are trading from €3.60/kg to €3.80/kg, with the spread of prices detailed in the Department’s table of last week’s prices.
The general run of prices for young bulls is €4.10/kg to €4.15/kg for R and U grading bulls, but top prices are rising to €4.20/kg and possibly a little more in recent days. O grading Friesian bulls are trading from €3.85/kg to €4.00/kg.
Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling from a base of €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, with some regular sellers in a stronger negotiating position securing 2c/kg to 5c/kg extra.
Northern trade
While some plants are trying to open negotiations at a base of £3.58/kg, the reality is the majority of deals for steers and heifers are opening at a U-3 base of £3.60/kg to £3.62/kg. This is the equivalent of €4.11/kg to €4.14/kg at 87.5p to the euro and €4.34/kg to €4.36/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
There is a rising percentage of cattle trading from regular sellers off a base of £3.64/kg to £3.66/kg (€4.38 to €4.40/kg), while specialist producers handling large numbers and those supplying on a weekly or fortnightly basis are pushing prices towards a U-3 base of £3.70/kg (€4.45/kg) for steers and heifers.
Fleshed O grading cows remain at a range of £2.85/kg to £3.00/kg (€3.43/kg to €3.61/kg), with good R grading cows rising to £3.15/kg (€3.79/kg) and higher.
British beef prices continue to increase very slowly, rising by 1p/kg to 2p/kg in recent weeks.
The AHDB reports average R4L steers and heifers at £3.77/kg to £3.78/kg (€4.55/kg to €4.56/kg). Young bull prices have increased by 2.8p, with R3 young bulls averaging £3.61/kg (€4.35/kg), while cows are steady at an O_3 price of £2.97/kg (€3.58/kg).
Read more
Beef prices harden as cattle supplies tighten
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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