Irish beef factories are killing record numbers of cattle out of feedlots, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.

Data obtained from the Department of Agriculture shows that so far in 2022 there have been an extra 42,500 cattle slaughtered from controlled finishing units compared to 2021, an increase of 25%. A total of 210,500 animals have been slaughtered out of feedlots up to the end of June 2022 compared to 168,000 for the same period last year.

Feedlot finishers continue to be very active around mart rings purchasing animals for an autumn finish. The data also breaks down the 2022 cow kill.

The cow kill is hitting record levels, with the 2022 cow kill up 33,000 head on 2021. This is broken down into 5,000 more suckler herd slaughterings and 28,000 more dairy cows killed in the first six months of 2022.

Quotes have remained steady this week with bullocks moving at €4.80/kg to €4.85/kg. Heifers working off €4.90/kg to €4.95/kg. The Bord Bia benchmark price improved slightly last week pointing to better beef market conditions across both the EU and Britain.