The trade for cattle in NI marts has eased in recent weeks after the peaks seen in late autumn, data published by the Livestock and Meat Commission shows.

Finished beef cows have recorded the sharpest decline, with first-quality prices falling from 386p/kg in October to 342p/kg by mid-December – the equivalent of a £352 drop per head for an 800kg beef-bred cow. However, prime cattle have seen much smaller price reductions.

First-quality finished steers averaged 391p/kg at the beginning of October and were down marginally to 389p/kg by mid-December. Second-quality steers followed a similar pattern, easing back to 316p/kg – a fall of 6p/kg. For stores weighing 400kg to 500kg, mart prices for first quality lots in early December averaged 440p/kg, with second quality steers averaging 345p/kg. The prices are down on those from the second week of October, when first-quality lots averaged 495p and second quality averaged 420p/kg.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is a similar trend for heifers, with the prices paid for finished animals peaking at 405p/kg for first quality heifers in late-November, before falling to 380p/kg by the second week of December. Over the same period, the price paid for second-quality finished animals has dropped from 330p/kg to 320p/kg.

The price paid for first quality store heifers weighing up to 450kg peaked at 540p/kg in early November, before dropping back to 500p/kg in early December. The average price paid for second quality lots has dropped from 440p to 390p/kg over the same period.