The final slaughter records for the 2018 beef kill shows throughput increasing 51,230 head to reach 1,798,289.

There were significant changes within different categories of stock, with heifer throughput rising 26,827 head to reach 487,063, while the cow kill recorded the next greatest lift, rising 22,716 head to reach 396,735.

Steers dominant

Steers were again the dominant stock category at 669,068 head, but this was a decrease of 12,105 head on 2017 levels.

The reduction was cancelled out by young bull throughput increasing 8,757 head to reach 204,729, while the number of bulls over 24 months of age slaughtered increased 2,559 head to reach 30,760.

Beef production figures are still being finalised, but it is expected the volume of beef produced will be in the region of 630,000t, a significant increase on the 617,000t recorded in 2017.

There was much talk after last week’s story about the beef kill reaching a 20-year high that the volume of beef produced now must be much lower due to decreasing carcase weights.

The average carcase weight remains well ahead of levels recorded in the 1990s

While carcase weights have reduced in recent years on the back of a higher percentage of dairy-bred stock being slaughtered, the average carcase weight remains well ahead of levels recorded in the 1990s, with beef production recorded at 640,000t in 1999 when the beef kill hit just shy of 2m head.

Steady trade

There is no change to this week’s trade, with steers and heifers continuing to trade on a base of €3.75/kg and €3.85/kg respectively.

The best demand remains for in-spec stock, with some plants showing less interest in stock aged over 30 to 36 months.

Cow prices continue mainly at a range of €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg for O grades, with some lots of top-quality heavier carcase O grading cows rising above this in cow-specialist plants.

R grades are trading in the main from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg, but, again, 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher prices are being secured in cases for heavy fleshed cows.

Tricky trade

Bulls continue to be a tricky trade, with many producers facing significant delays from booking to slaughter, while others who are getting bulls away are doing so at a much slower rate.

O grading bulls remain at a price range of €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg, with R grades from €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg and U grades from €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg.

Some plants are discounting heavier carcase bulls over 440kg by 5c/kg to 10c/kg, while bulls less than 16 months and returning carcase weights of 400kg to 420kg upwards are also facing potential price cuts or payment off the grid.

The above scenarios depend on the producer-processor relationship.