There are growing signs that supplies of finished cattle are tightening as numbers of shed cattle dwindle.

A number of beef finishers have indicated that factory agents have been in close contact with regards to cattle coming forward over June, July and August.

This has given finishers confidence to replenish sheds with short-keep animals.

Factory throughput is up 16% this year, which is contributing to the outlook for tight supplies. That 16% equates to almost 21,000 extra cattle when compared to the same period in 2021.

Prime cattle

Prime cattle throughout is up 14%, or just over 14,500 head, with cows up 21%, which is close on 6,000 additional animals slaughtered.

Forecasts from the Livestock and Meat Commission also point to a major shortage in the availability of slaughter cattle this summer.

In April, the number of beef cattle between 24 and 30 months of age was down 24% on last year.

Steer numbers were 30.5% lower, with heifers down 22.3%. While there were more animals between 18 and 24 months of age, this is offset by fewer cattle aged between 12 and 18 months.

Prices

With processing demand for finished cattle remaining extremely strong across the UK and Ireland, and supplies looking increasingly tight, it is leading to higher prices across all categories of stock.

Finishers report deals of 440p to 444p/kg for in-spec steers and heifers. Farmers with smaller numbers to sell are receiving 334p to 338p/kg for similar animals, but many are choosing instead to offload in marts.

Short-keep and slaughter-fit U-grading types are regularly making 260p to 280p/kg in live rings. At a kill-out of 58%, this equates to factory prices of 448p to 480p/kg.

Cows

Cull cows are an exceptionally buoyant trade. In the marts, heavily fleshed animals are regularly making 220p/kg, rising to 240p/kg for select types.

Factory prices are typically 370p to 380p/kg for R grading cows but farmers specialising in cull cows report deals of 390p to 400p/kg being agreed for high-quality types under 60 months of age.

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