Angus Woods, livestock chair for the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), has said that there needs to be a substantial rise in cattle prices in 2020. The base price has re-opened in the New Year at €3.60/kg for steers and heifers, but Woods says that supplies are tight and better deals are being negotiated.
Angus Woods, livestock chair for the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), has said that there needs to be a substantial rise in cattle prices in 2020.
The base price has re-opened in the New Year at €3.60/kg for steers and heifers, but Woods says that supplies are tight and better deals are being negotiated.
Prices in the UK have continued to rise over the holiday period, with R3 steers making the equivalent of €4.20/kg including vat for the week ending 28 December.
Comparison
“Based on prices in our main export market in the UK, Irish prices have major potential to rise,” Woods said. He also said that the total kill for 2019 reached 1,737,285 head, which is down 61,009 on 2018 levels.
Outlining the comparative changes, he said that there was a 41,000 head reduction in the steer kill and a 50,000 head drop in cull cow numbers. Heifers killed increased by 16,000 and young bulls by 5,000 head.
Election
The IFA’s national livestock committee will meet in Portlaoise on Tuesday 5 January, where a new chair will be elected.
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