Christmas has traditionally been associated with an increase in the demand for beef. However, as all the big UK supermarkets sell their beef in retail packs as opposed to over a butchers counter, by the time December arrives the Christmas trade has passed.

From now on, the roasting cuts from cattle killed will be targeted at the Christmas market and this will be the case until the end of November.

This means a big demand for roasting cuts from the animal’s hindquarter and with the forequarter market also exceptionally strong, there is a good market for cattle at present.

The only problem that spoils the beef market at present is the fact that steak meat markets are unusually weak, with loins being particularly difficult to sell. Even ones that make supermarket specification for size and quality assurance status aren’t selling and being offloaded in the trade at several euro per kilo less than would be normally expected.