IFA livestock chair Brendan Golden has called on beef farmers to “dig in and sell hard” as factories seek in-spec cattle for the supermarket trade in the UK.

Quotes for prime cattle have increased by 5c/kg and 10c/kg this week, especially in the heifer trade.

Golden said the supermarket trade has performed very well throughout the year for beef and demand is increasing in the lead-in to Christmas.

“Supplies of in-spec cattle in particular are predicted to tighten considerably over the coming weeks and this is very evident in the factories’ attempts to secure cattle to meet market demand,” he said.

Better returns

The IFA livestock leader said the cattle price in the UK continues to rise and with domestic supplies also projected to tighten, market conditions justify better returns from factories.

The UK price for R4L steers jumped 5c/kg to the VAT-inclusive equivalent of €4.57/kg in the past week, he said.

Golden called on factories to start reflecting the true value of Ireland’s most important market to farmers, calling on farmers to dig in and sell hard.

Deals well above quoted prices or flat deals for plainer Angus and Hereford cattle of up to €3.95/kg at this stage are available, he said.

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IFA calls on beef farmers to dig in and sell hard

Quotes for prime cattle have increased by 5c/kg and 10c/kg this week, especially in the heifer trade, and the IFA has called on farmers to sell hard.