Beef prices affecting cull cow trade
The continued pressure on cull cow prices in factories is having an effect at mart rings.
Demand for Friesian cull cows has weakened slightly in some parts of the south, with thin cows straight from the parlour taking another hit. Prices in the main are running from €0.90/kg to €1.00/kg, but Jersey-crosses and plainer old cows are seeing prices of €0.60/kg or €0.70/kg in some areas.
Even Friesian cows carrying flesh have seen prices weaken by 20c/kg to 30c/kg in the past few weeks. The tougher factory trade for cows is affecting better-quality suckler culls also.
The highs of €1.90/kg for well-fleshed cows are now seldom seen, even for young cow heifers, with prices of €1.80/kg to €1.85/kg more common. Average-quality feeding continental cows are selling mainly from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg.
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