“Steady” is how the LMC (Livestock and Meat Commission) described the beef trade (prices) across Northern Ireland this week (August 2022).
Base quotes from local processors for in-spec U-3 grade steers and heifers stood at 410-424p/kg this week.
Despite a downward trajectory in recent weeks, it expects plants to place between 412-434p/kg on the table next week.
Meanwhile, quotes for O+3 grade cows varied from 330-374p/kg in NI this week. Unlike the expected increase in prime cattle prices, it expects quotes to vary from 330-360p/kg.
Beef Prices August 2022
According to the LMC:
- The average cow price in NI last week “remained steady” from the previous week at 343.9p/kg, while the O3 cow price fell by 1.8p/kg to 371.7p/kg. In the corresponding week in 2021, the O3 cow price in NI stood at 317.6p/kg.
- The average steer price was up by just 0.2p/kg to 425.8p/kg. The R3 steer price in NI last week was 436.4p/kg back by 0.6p/kg;
- Last week, the average heifer price in NI fell by just under 2p/kg to 428.2p/kg, while the R3 heifer price dropped by 3.8p/kg to 435.8p/kg.
Throughput
Prime cattle throughput last week amounted to 6,223 head, up 342 head from the previous week.
In the same week last year, 6,659 prime cattle were slaughtered in local plants.
Cow throughput in NI last week stood at 2,369 head, up 84 head from the previous week when the NI cow kill totalled 2,285 head.
Exports and imports
Imports of prime cattle for direct slaughter last week in local plants from ROI included 356 prime cattle and 136 cows with no cattle imported from GB.
Meanwhile, two prime cattle and 16 cows were exported from NI to ROI for direct slaughter.
For the fourth week in a row, no cattle made the journey to GB for direct slaughter.
To share your story, email – Catherina Cunnane – [email protected]
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