With 10p/kg coming off the beef trade in just two weeks, it has left NI farmers trailing behind counterparts in Britain, official prices reported by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) show.

To the week ending 5 September the difference between a R3 steer slaughtered in NI compared to the same animal in Britain had widened out to nearly 12p/kg, however on U3 and R4 grades, the difference sits around 16 and 20p/kg respectively. That compares to a gap of 7p/kg and 13p/kg for U3 and R4 grades in the week ending 22 August.

In the week ending 5 September price reported U3 heifers in Scotland crossed the 400p/kg barrier

But it is the gap to prices in Scotland that is most notable, with official price reports showing it at around the 30p/kg mark for U and R grades. n the week ending 5 September price reported U3 heifers in Scotland crossed the 400p/kg barrier.

Year-to-date

At the start of 2020 NI prices were around 10p/kg behind Scotland, and on a par, or even ahead for some grades, of prices paid in England and Wales.

As the year has progressed NI has gradually fallen behind, but the difference has become most pronounced in the last two weeks. Our analysis suggests that it is the largest gap to emerge between beef prices in NI and Britain since late 2018.

Scottish prices

Reports from Scotland suggest that it is limited supplies underpinning the trade at present.

To the end of July, slaughter numbers were up 2.9% on the same period in 2019, but since then, supplies have tightened significantly, and in the five weeks to 5 September the Scottish kill is back 5.2% on 2019 figures.

It is the opposite in NI, where numbers were back in the first half of the year, but have been exceptionally strong in July and August. In the five weeks to 5 September the kill is up 3.7% on 2019.

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Options for feeding meal to cattle at grass

394p/kg for Scottish R4 steers