The beef kill has broken through the 40,000 head mark for the first time since October 2008. Last week’s kill increased 703 head to reach 40,529. The lift in throughput continues to be driven by an increase in heifers (703 extra), cows (286 extra) and young bulls (144 extra), with steer throughput remaining on a downward trend (390 less).
Comparing the kill with the corresponding week in 2016, there were an additional 5,076 cattle processed this year. This brings the annual change in throughput to over 96,000 extra animals handled in 2017, with a total kill of 1,619,430.
While the elevated kill remains a dominant aspect, it is matched by strong market demand, with factories happy to utilise greater processing capacity.
The robust demand is helping to keep a solid floor under the trade. Steers are starting at a base of €3.85/kg, with regular sellers securing a base of €3.90/kg. There are some reports of prices exceeding this level, with deals generally confined to those supplying large numbers, with some plants opting to give allowances on transport as opposed to paying higher.
Heifers are trading at a mixed base of €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg, with sellers handling large numbers again in the best negotiating position and securing a base of €4.05/kg.
The bull trade is also vibrant, with the variance between the top and bottom prices paid ranging by as much as 10c/kg to 15c/kg.
U grades are selling in general from €4.00/kg to €4.05/kg, but there are small numbers trading at €3.95/kg and at €4.10/kg.
R grades are moving on a price of €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg, with O grades selling anywhere from €3.65/kg to €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg where very large numbers of upwards of 70 to 100 bulls are involved. Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are generally selling on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.
Cows are steady, with the differential between top and bottom prices also remaining at 10c/kg to 20c/kg. P+3 grading cows are trading from €3.05/kg to €3.25/kg, with fleshed O grading cows from €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg.
R grades are selling from €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg in plants not active in the market, rising to €3.55/kg to €3.60/kg for heavy fleshed R+ grading cows in cow-specialist plants, while U grades in the same plants are selling from €3.55kg to €3.65/kg.
While movement is minor, the British trade continues to recover, with the AHDB reporting an improvement in steer and bull prices.
R4L steers lifted 0.8p to £3.80/kg (€4.55/kg at 88p to the euro and including VAT at 5.4%), while the overall steer price lifted over 3p/kg. Heifers are steady at £3.79/kg (€4.54/kg incl VAT), while R3 young bulls increased nearly 4p/kg to £3.65/kg (€4.37/kg incl VAT).
Meanwhile, the northern trade remains steady, with U3- base quotes unchanged at £3.54/kg to £3.56/kg (€4.24/kg to €4.26/kg incl VAT). The prime cattle kill continues to run 700 to 800 above previous years’ levels, with total throughput for the year to date up 12,653. Cow prices continue to range from £2.60/kg (€3.11/kg incl VAT) to £2.80/kg (€3.35/kg incl VAT) for good O and R grading cows.
Meanwhile, prices across European markets have maintained their recent improvement, leaving Ireland well down the price table.
The latest Bord Bia price reporting for the week ending 18 November shows R3 young bulls selling for €4.06/kg (€4.28/kg incl VAT) in Italy, €4.13/kg (€4.35/kg incl VAT) in Germany, €3.98/kg (€4.19/kg in France) and €3.93/kg (€4.14/kg) in Spain.
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Northern view: beef trade finely balanced
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The beef kill has broken through the 40,000 head mark for the first time since October 2008. Last week’s kill increased 703 head to reach 40,529. The lift in throughput continues to be driven by an increase in heifers (703 extra), cows (286 extra) and young bulls (144 extra), with steer throughput remaining on a downward trend (390 less).
Comparing the kill with the corresponding week in 2016, there were an additional 5,076 cattle processed this year. This brings the annual change in throughput to over 96,000 extra animals handled in 2017, with a total kill of 1,619,430.
While the elevated kill remains a dominant aspect, it is matched by strong market demand, with factories happy to utilise greater processing capacity.
The robust demand is helping to keep a solid floor under the trade. Steers are starting at a base of €3.85/kg, with regular sellers securing a base of €3.90/kg. There are some reports of prices exceeding this level, with deals generally confined to those supplying large numbers, with some plants opting to give allowances on transport as opposed to paying higher.
Heifers are trading at a mixed base of €3.95/kg to €4.00/kg, with sellers handling large numbers again in the best negotiating position and securing a base of €4.05/kg.
The bull trade is also vibrant, with the variance between the top and bottom prices paid ranging by as much as 10c/kg to 15c/kg.
U grades are selling in general from €4.00/kg to €4.05/kg, but there are small numbers trading at €3.95/kg and at €4.10/kg.
R grades are moving on a price of €3.90/kg to €3.95/kg, with O grades selling anywhere from €3.65/kg to €3.80/kg to €3.85/kg where very large numbers of upwards of 70 to 100 bulls are involved. Bulls less than 16 months and trading on the grid are generally selling on a base of €3.85/kg to €3.90/kg.
Cows are steady, with the differential between top and bottom prices also remaining at 10c/kg to 20c/kg. P+3 grading cows are trading from €3.05/kg to €3.25/kg, with fleshed O grading cows from €3.30/kg to €3.45/kg.
R grades are selling from €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg in plants not active in the market, rising to €3.55/kg to €3.60/kg for heavy fleshed R+ grading cows in cow-specialist plants, while U grades in the same plants are selling from €3.55kg to €3.65/kg.
While movement is minor, the British trade continues to recover, with the AHDB reporting an improvement in steer and bull prices.
R4L steers lifted 0.8p to £3.80/kg (€4.55/kg at 88p to the euro and including VAT at 5.4%), while the overall steer price lifted over 3p/kg. Heifers are steady at £3.79/kg (€4.54/kg incl VAT), while R3 young bulls increased nearly 4p/kg to £3.65/kg (€4.37/kg incl VAT).
Meanwhile, the northern trade remains steady, with U3- base quotes unchanged at £3.54/kg to £3.56/kg (€4.24/kg to €4.26/kg incl VAT). The prime cattle kill continues to run 700 to 800 above previous years’ levels, with total throughput for the year to date up 12,653. Cow prices continue to range from £2.60/kg (€3.11/kg incl VAT) to £2.80/kg (€3.35/kg incl VAT) for good O and R grading cows.
Meanwhile, prices across European markets have maintained their recent improvement, leaving Ireland well down the price table.
The latest Bord Bia price reporting for the week ending 18 November shows R3 young bulls selling for €4.06/kg (€4.28/kg incl VAT) in Italy, €4.13/kg (€4.35/kg incl VAT) in Germany, €3.98/kg (€4.19/kg in France) and €3.93/kg (€4.14/kg) in Spain.
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Northern view: beef trade finely balanced
Download the Irish Farmers Journal news app today and get the latest prices for all grades and all factories through the built-in Livestock Tool.
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