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Last week’s cattle kill of 10,760 was the highest weekly kill recorded in NI since early November 2009.
It continues a trend seen for a number of weeks during which factories have had no difficulty in sourcing supplies.
During the four-week period from 21 September, the weekly kill has exceeded 10,000 head. To put that into perspective the weekly kill has only exceeded 10,000 head on 10 occasions in the last seven years.
Kill up 505 head
Last week’s kill was up by 505 head on the previous week. Prime cattle throughput stood at 7,697 which is the second highest figure for this year, and the third highest prime kill since 6 October 2012.
The weekly cow kill was also up, rising by 314 head to 2,926, making it the highest kill this year and the highest cow kill since 11 November 2017.
Across 2019 to date the kill stands at 353,394 head, up only 1.4% on the 348,584 for the same period last year. However, since the start of September 60,728 cattle have been slaughtered, which is 11% more than the same period in 2018
Price
Despite ample supplies, cattle prices are steady at local processing plants with quotes holding on 312p/kg to 320p/kg for U-3 grading animals, with R grading cows on 260p/kg.
But as plants increase their cattle throughput, fewer lambs are being processed. As a result, there is no movement in lamb price, with base quotes holding on 345p/kg.
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