After a significant break, factories are slowly starting to recommence processing of beef stock. Plants that were not restricted during the protest continue to work at close to or at full capacity.
After a significant break, factories are slowly starting to recommence processing of beef stock.
Plants that were not restricted during the protest continue to work at close to or at full capacity.
A small number of plants which were prevented from killing due to the protests operated at lower throughput on Monday, while most remaining factories are likely to be operational on Tuesday.
Quotes
Quotes are also slow to emerge, with a significant backlog developing in recent weeks and factories working closely with producers who are at the top of the list for getting cattle accepted for slaughter.
Quotes appear to be largely in line with levels offered before processing was brought to a standstill.
Steers are reported as trading from a base of €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg, with heifers trading from a base of €3.50/kg to €3.60/kg.
The higher prices are said to be dependent in some factories on cattle ticking all the boxes on their desired specification.
Throughput backlog
Some factories say it will be later this week before processing gets back to normal levels of throughput.
The backlog is estimated at anywhere from one week to two weeks for producers who did not have cattle previously booked in and are now looking to trade.
Bull prices
Bull prices are also unchanged. R grading bulls range from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg at the top end of the market, with U grades selling on average from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg.
Producers who had cattle fit to be drafted a few weeks ago are advised to check weight limits, with bulls on an intensive finishing diet in some cases progressing into very heavy carcases.
O grading bulls range from €3.20/kg to €3.30/kg, while prices for Friesian bulls which have exceeded 24 months are falling back to €3.00/kg or lower.
Northern trade
Torrential rainfall in recent days has ramped up the pressure in marginal land areas in particular to keep slaughter-fit stock moving.
The U-3 base quote for steers and heifers is unchanged at a range of £3.12/kg to £3.20/kg.
This equates to €3.53/kg to €3.62/kg at 88.4p to the euro and €3.72/kg to €3.82/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Regular sellers trading at the top end of the market continue to have some success in negotiating returns into the low-£3.20s.
The latest DAERA import and export analysis shows 401 cattle exported from Ireland to Northern Ireland last week for direct slaughter.
This represents an increase of about 120 head on the previous week and is largely in line with volumes crossing the border at the corresponding period in 2018.
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