Heifer prices are moving in the right direction this week, with some processors more anxious for heifers as this week’s trading started. Up to €3.65/kg is now being paid reluctantly by some processors to make sure heifers are bought. Some producer groups have also been offered as high as €3.70/kg base this week, up from last week’s quote of €3.60/kg.
Heifer prices are moving in the right direction this week, with some processors more anxious for heifers as this week’s trading started.
Up to €3.65/kg is now being paid reluctantly by some processors to make sure heifers are bought. Some producer groups have also been offered as high as €3.70/kg base this week, up from last week’s quote of €3.60/kg.
Some factories are still managing to secure supplies at €3.60/kg for heifers and steers.
The highest prices continue to be paid in the northwest, with prices reported for steers and heifers ticking all the boxes on carcase weight and QPS specifications selling for €3.70/kg to €3.75/kg, while all plants remain anxious for traditional breeds to meet retail demand.
Bull trade
The young bull trade remains unchanged. The general run of prices is €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg for R grades and €3.60/kg to €3.65/kg for U grades.
O grades are trading in a wider differential, ranging anywhere from €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg, with carcase grade, weight and fat cover having a major influence on price.
Prices quoted for stock bulls typically range from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg, with agents handling higher numbers securing returns of €2.70/kg in cases from processors who specialise in heavy bulls.
Northern Irish buyers have continued to compete very strongly around mart rings in the last few days for good-quality finished cows. This appetite and alternative option for farmers is helping to steady the trade.
P+3 grading cows have moved on to €2.80/kg to €2.85/kg, while O grades are moving from €2.90/kg to €3.00/kg.
Good R grading cows are selling around the €3.10/kg mark, with a shade more going in the northwest. U grades are trading at €3.20/kg to €3.25/kg.
These are prices quoted for smaller numbers, with regular sellers capable of securing an extra 5c/kg to 10c/kg.
The week before last, the kill rose again to 36,422 head, up another 214 head on the week before. It’s also over 1,800 cattle higher than the corresponding week’s kill in 2019.
Last week’s high kill is another indication of the strong demand from retailers in the UK for beef.
Northern demand
Base quotes in NI for U-3 cattle in Northern Ireland remains on 356p/kg (€3.96/kg ex-VAT).
In-spec steers and heifers continue to command 365p to 375p/kg (€4.06 to €4.16/kg), with specialist finishers supplying bigger numbers on deals in the lower of the 380p/kg range (€4.22/kg).
Quotes on cull cows increased by 10p to a base of 280p/kg (€3.11/kg) for R3 animals, but deals of 300p to 320p/kg are available (€3.33/kg to €3.55/kg).
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