The 2025 beef trade starts the year with plenty of positivity from the farmers’ perspective, as factories are eager to lock in cattle for the week ahead.Although plants have been operating on shorter kill weeks over Christmas, the holiday period has not created any short-term backlog in supplies coming on to the market.
The 2025 beef trade starts the year with plenty of positivity from the farmers’ perspective, as factories are eager to lock in cattle for the week ahead.
Although plants have been operating on shorter kill weeks over Christmas, the holiday period has not created any short-term backlog in supplies coming on to the market.
That said, official quotes start January at the same level they finished off in December on 508p/kg for U-3 grading animals.
Finished cattle continue to move off farm around 518p and 520p/kg on in-spec steers and heifers.
Regular finishers are faring better, as the draw of more cattle means factory agents are flexible on price.
Deals of 522p and 524p/kg, plus haulage, have been reported, with higher prices reserved for specialist finishers working on weekly kill schedules.
Bulls
Young bulls are moving on a range of prices. Animals exceeding weight limits are moving closer to official quotes at 510p/kg.
But animals meeting the 16-month age limit, as well as specifications on carcase weight and conformation, are moving in line with steers.
Britain
While beef prices are positive and start 2025 around 40p/kg above the prices paid in January 2024, NI factories lag well behind plants in Britain.
Supplies continue to tighten across Scotland and England, with the knock-on effect seeing prices running well over 560p/kg for U grading steers and heifers.
With NI cattle also sold into the same lucrative retail beef sector under the Red Tractor brand, there is plenty of scope for local plants to pay more on in-spec animals.
Cows
Processing demand for cull cows remains robust and with the live trade getting under way after the Christmas period, factories will come under pressure to match mart prices.
Deals of 420p and 440p/kg have been paid on young suckler types with good conformation, easing back to 400p/kg for older, plainer animals.
Sheep
Lamb quotes also kick off 2025 with little change, as plants work on a base of 680p/kg. However, with marts opening again and numbers extremely tight, deals of 700p/kg remain common place.
Competition from live exporters is expected to provide strong competition over the coming weeks as some agents look to make an early start on sourcing sheep ahead of Ramadan.
As such, farmers facing difficulty in negotiating for higher prices should consider the live trade for heavier, meal finished animals.
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