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A depressed beef market has filtered through into the mart trade and across the year prices are below what was paid in 2017 or 2018.
While mart prices have increased in recent weeks on the back of higher finished cattle prices, the average price paid across 2019 for steers weighing between 400kg and 600kg is down 10p/kg on the year, or £55 on a 550kg store.
Based on Irish Farmers Journal Mart Watch data, steers weighing 400kg to 500kg have averaged 175.3p/kg during 2019, down from 185.9p/kg in 2018 and 182.5p/kg in 2017. However, prices this year are still ahead of 2016, when prices averaged 169.2p/kg.
For steers weighing 500kg to 600kg, they have averaged 174.4p/kg during 2019, down from 185.1p/kg last year and 184.6p/kg in 2017. Bullocks over 600kg averaged 174.6p/kg in 2019 compared with 179.8p/kg last year.
Quality cattle
Looking specifically at top end U-grading types weighing 400kg to 500kg, the average price is 207p/kg this year, down from 219.5p/kg last year. It means a 480kg store is worth £60 less year on year.
Those weighing 500kg to 600kg have averaged 197p/kg, compared with 210.8p/kg in 2018, making a 580kg steer worth £80 less.
Hiefers
In terms of similar U-grading type heifers weighing 500 to 600kg, they have averaged 195.4p/kg this year, down from 208.5p/kg in 2018, making a 580kg animal worth £76 less year on year.
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