Last week’s beef kill reduced by 1,554 head following a weather-related spike in throughput in the previous week.
Throughput still remains strong at 35,366, or 34,105 cattle when the higher number of 1,261 calves processed is deducted.
The kill is leaving factories in a good negotiating position, but there are also significant changes within categories that the overall kill figure fails to capture and signs of more life entering the trade.
Factories have been much more anxious for cows and this is reflected in last week’s throughput rising by 426 head to 7,454.
An analysis of European cow prices by Phelim O’Neill, which was published on the Irish Farmers Journal website at the weekend, showed that Irish factories are performing strongly in the cow market and only bettered by prices paid to producers in Sweden.
The trade for cows has strengthened in the last week, with a big differential remaining between plants.
Prices paid to those handling high numbers have lifted by 3c/kg to 5c/kg.
P+3 grading cows are trading from €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg, with top prices to €3.45/kg.
O grading cows range from €3.40/kg in plants least active for cows to €3.55/kg and as high as €3.60/kg in cow-specialist plants.
R grade cow prices range on average from €3.55/kg to €3.70/kg, but higher prices have been paid for heavy fleshed cows, with top prices for the best-quality U grading cows ranging from €3.70/kg to €3.80/kg and even higher in cases.
Factories are also more anxious for bulls, with last week’s throughput reducing 1,169 to 3,797 head.
Prices are typically €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg for R grades and €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg for U grades, with the numbers on offer mostly securing the higher price.
There is also strong demand for Friesian bulls, with prices of €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg reported. Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling on a base of €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg.
There appears to be more demand entering the trade. There are more sellers securing the higher €4.00/kg base for steers, with remaining animals selling on a base of €3.95/kg.
Likewise, there are more sellers with greater negotiating power pushing base prices for heifers from €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, with allowances also given on transport costs to secure sales involving high numbers.
EU price table
Plants are unfortunately not able to repeat their position in the EU price table for steers and heifers.
Leaving aside Sweden, R3 steer prices are 10c/kg to 20c/kg behind Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, with these countries all also having the production benefits of bull production.
The differential in Irish and EU prices is even wider in heifers, with France also added to the list ahead of Ireland.
Northern prices
Northern prices have increased by 2p/kg to 4p/kg in the last week.
A high percentage of sellers are trading at a U-3 steer and heifer base of £3.56/kg to £3.58/kg. This is the equivalent of €4.07/kg to €4.09/kg at 87.4p to the euro or €4.29/kg to €4.31/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Regular sellers realise they are gaining more selling power and are pushing to secure a base of £3.60/kg (€4.33/kg) to £3.65/kg (€4.40/kg).
British prices have also strengthened, with weather-related processing difficulties helping demand.
The R4L steer and heifer price has lifted 1p/kg to 2p/kg at £3.68/kg to £3.70/kg (€4.44/kg to €4.46/kg).
Read more
Irish factories top in cow trade
Prime cattle quotes edge upwards to 358p/kg
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
Last week’s beef kill reduced by 1,554 head following a weather-related spike in throughput in the previous week.
Throughput still remains strong at 35,366, or 34,105 cattle when the higher number of 1,261 calves processed is deducted.
The kill is leaving factories in a good negotiating position, but there are also significant changes within categories that the overall kill figure fails to capture and signs of more life entering the trade.
Factories have been much more anxious for cows and this is reflected in last week’s throughput rising by 426 head to 7,454.
An analysis of European cow prices by Phelim O’Neill, which was published on the Irish Farmers Journal website at the weekend, showed that Irish factories are performing strongly in the cow market and only bettered by prices paid to producers in Sweden.
The trade for cows has strengthened in the last week, with a big differential remaining between plants.
Prices paid to those handling high numbers have lifted by 3c/kg to 5c/kg.
P+3 grading cows are trading from €3.30/kg to €3.40/kg, with top prices to €3.45/kg.
O grading cows range from €3.40/kg in plants least active for cows to €3.55/kg and as high as €3.60/kg in cow-specialist plants.
R grade cow prices range on average from €3.55/kg to €3.70/kg, but higher prices have been paid for heavy fleshed cows, with top prices for the best-quality U grading cows ranging from €3.70/kg to €3.80/kg and even higher in cases.
Factories are also more anxious for bulls, with last week’s throughput reducing 1,169 to 3,797 head.
Prices are typically €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg for R grades and €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg for U grades, with the numbers on offer mostly securing the higher price.
There is also strong demand for Friesian bulls, with prices of €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg reported. Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are selling on a base of €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg.
There appears to be more demand entering the trade. There are more sellers securing the higher €4.00/kg base for steers, with remaining animals selling on a base of €3.95/kg.
Likewise, there are more sellers with greater negotiating power pushing base prices for heifers from €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, with allowances also given on transport costs to secure sales involving high numbers.
EU price table
Plants are unfortunately not able to repeat their position in the EU price table for steers and heifers.
Leaving aside Sweden, R3 steer prices are 10c/kg to 20c/kg behind Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, with these countries all also having the production benefits of bull production.
The differential in Irish and EU prices is even wider in heifers, with France also added to the list ahead of Ireland.
Northern prices
Northern prices have increased by 2p/kg to 4p/kg in the last week.
A high percentage of sellers are trading at a U-3 steer and heifer base of £3.56/kg to £3.58/kg. This is the equivalent of €4.07/kg to €4.09/kg at 87.4p to the euro or €4.29/kg to €4.31/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Regular sellers realise they are gaining more selling power and are pushing to secure a base of £3.60/kg (€4.33/kg) to £3.65/kg (€4.40/kg).
British prices have also strengthened, with weather-related processing difficulties helping demand.
The R4L steer and heifer price has lifted 1p/kg to 2p/kg at £3.68/kg to £3.70/kg (€4.44/kg to €4.46/kg).
Read more
Irish factories top in cow trade
Prime cattle quotes edge upwards to 358p/kg
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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