This is a subscriber-only article
Last week’s beef kill hit 38,248 – the highest weekly kill in Ireland since 2010. The kill increased despite steer throughput falling 723 head to 17,519, while cow throughput was up 403 head to 8,143 head.
Prices are largely unchanged, with steers trading at a base of €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg, with a greater number trading at a base of €3.75/kg.
Heifers are trading on a split base price of €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg, with small numbers selling for 3c/kg to 5c/kg more at the higher end of the market.
Bull numbers are following a seasonal increase, with prices ranging on average from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg for R grades and €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg for U grades.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Joe Burke of Bord Bia said that the increase in the kill is mainly due to additional steers and heifers.
“This would have been forecast at the beginning of the year.
“The [increase] in recent weeks has been due to bad weather and ground conditions worsening, with farmers having to choose whether to house cattle for the winter or kill them.”
Burke said that increased calf registrations, dairy expansion and relatively low live exports have also contributed to the increase.
Factories are happy with their ability to process and sell cattle at the minute with little or product remaining in stock.
This will come as little solace to farmers though who are seeing price continually under pressure.
Northern Ireland
Last week, plants in Northern Ireland processed 9,488 head, up from 7,800 head in early September.
Prime cattle numbers fell by 140 head last week, but throughput continues to be boosted by higher numbers of cull cows coming onto the market.
Price-wise, cattle prices remain unchanged this week, with base quotes coming in at £3.48/kg to £3.54/kg for U-grade animals.
SHARING OPTIONS: