On Tuesday the Irish Farmers Journal paid a visit to the Bentham and District Farmers’ Auction Mart to see first-hand what the cattle trade is like in England.

The quality of the cattle was quite varied, with some good Charolais and Limousin cross cattle on sale, but there were also a lot of Holstein and British Friesian steers.

It was unusual to see that not one animal that entered the ring was weighed, and farmers bid on cattle based on traits such as conformation, breed, age and gender. The farmers and auctioneer said they feel weight isn’t an issue for a store animal and it should be enough to judge them on their merits as they appear in the ring.

Many of the farmers at the auction explained that they, too, had a tough year finishing cattle.

Looking back at beef prices in midsummer in England, an R3 steer was making 411c/kg.

At present the same grade is making 461c/kg, which is putting some pep back into the trade.

An Irish R3 was 371.8c/kg last week. Stephen Dennis

Auctioneer, Bentham & District Farmers’ Auction Mart Co Ltd

“Today’s sale was steady as regards numbers. We had 80-100 cattle more for sale here compared to this time last year. Numbers have been good here all year but this is not the case everywhere. In total, there were 389 cattle up for auction. Of these, 141 were suckled calves [weanlings] and the remaining 248 were made up of store cattle and feeding bulls. The main buyers for the suckled calves are local farmers. They buy the calves to winter. They graze these animals over the summer and sell in markets such as this one the following autumn. Demand for store cattle is usually from large winter finishers, many finishing in excess of 1,000 head per year. These buyers come from as far away as Buckinghamshire, more than three hours away. Prices for strong store cattle over 22 months old were ranging between £1,000-£1,100 (€1,270-€1,400) per head for quality continental store cattle.

“We get a lot of Holstein Friesian store cattle here too and these are making between £700-£900 (€900-€1,150) per head, depending on quality. The trade during the summer for store cattle was quite flat because beef prices were on a downward spiral at the time. But there has been a significant rise since the end of August, which is having a positive effect of our trade in the store ring.

“I suspect beef prices will rise in the next few months. Store prices should rise with them because feed costs are down this year and there is an abundance of fodder around, such as potato waste and grass silage, on farms.

“I notice the age of cattle is only an issue to some farmers but the number of buyers available when an animal over 33 months enters the ring reduces dramatically. Irish beef coming into the UK does have an effect on our bottom lines, but we just have to get on with it.”

Howard Smith

Rose Cottage, Cawood Common, Selby, England

“I had an extremely bad summer finishing cattle. They were back £300-£400 (€385-€510) per head compared to the same time last year. I wouldn’t like to think about all the money I lost but it runs into the tens of thousands.

“Fat cattle that were making £1,400 (€1,784) per head in the factory last year were only making £1,000 (€1,274) per head this year. Last year in September/October I was able to get close to £3.65/kg (€4.66/kg) for a finished O3 animal in the factory whereas this year beef prices are at £3.30/kg (€4.44/kg) currently and it’s all needed.

“I finish over 1,000 cattle annually. On average I send 15 cattle per week to the factory. I used to buy all two-year-old Holstein Friesian steers at around 500kg and finish at 33 months when they would weigh approximately 700+kg liveweight. I have had to change my system somewhat after the dismal summer because factories weren’t keen on Friesians over 400kg deadweight and it was quite tough to sell these animals.

“Factories would take the animals but a price cut of 10p/kg was put in place for every 10kg above 400kg deadweight. I now buy 50% continental cattle as forward stores and most of these finish after 12 weeks [84 days].

“The Irish factories seem to have full control of the beef trade in England and I think we need more competition. The volume of Irish beef coming in had an effect on prices during the summer. Dunbia [an Irish-owned factory] looked after me during the poor beef price period and took my cattle. I think it helps to try and build a relationship with your factory and you will find there is a little more give and take.

“Someone said to me recently: ‘Farmers aren’t businessmen because if you were a businessman you would change your investment if you lost money,’ but farmers will continue to produce beef because that’s what they love to do.”

Robert Mole

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

“I finish over 500 head of cattle annually. They are mainly Holstein Friesian steers and I buy pretty much all ages and all types of grades.

“The cattle I bought today will be sorted into different groups. The oldest and heaviest will go into the shed for feeding and finishing while the younger cattle will spend a period out on grass before going in for the winter.

“Even though I am located in Aylesbury, my land is quite heavy and I winter my cattle indoors, unlike many of my neighbours.

“I wasn’t selling cattle over the summer so the poor prices didn’t affect me. Store prices are strong now but I feel beef prices need to rise more.

“If there is not a significant lift I feel I will have to change my beef system in some way to get more of a margin. I sell my cattle through a co-operative called Thames Valley farmers’ market. This is market-driven and my beef is weighed after slaughter in an abattoir. The beef is sold in markets direct to consumers.”

Mark and Haley Thompson

Hewitt farm house, Preston, North Yorkshire, England

“I am a livestock agent and cover the Yorkshire region. I buy 50-60 cattle a week and sell them to customers I have built relationships with over the years who don’t have the time to attend the mart themselves due to other commitments, or don’t want to try and compete with the bigger buyers.

“The heifers I bought today are average quality between six and nine months old and averaged £488 (€611)/head. They will go to a local farmer for housing and will spend one summer at grass.

“Other years I would buy good-quality Charolais bullocks for larger farmers but they haven’t been that strong this year due to the poor beef prices during the year.

“Hopefully prices continue to recover and more men will be keen for cattle again.”