March 2022 beef prices
Some plants have moved to increase beef prices by 5-10c/kg this week (March 2022).
Most factories are offering a steer base price of €4.55-€4.65/kg, while heifer base quotes are starting at a reported €4.65/kg and reaching €4.75/kg.
According to reports, one meat processor is offering a base price of up to €4.80/kg for steers and €4.85/kg for heifers (this includes a 10c bonus for cattle 300-400kgs).
In terms of cull cows, this publication has been informed of €4.00/kg for P grading cows, with most offering €4.10-€4.15/kg for O grades.
€4.20-€4.30/kg is on the table in several plants for R and U grade cull cows, with some factories pushing the bar to €4.40/kg.
According to reports, €4.60-€4.80/kg is available in some plants for young, R and U grade bulls.
Beef kill figures:
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s database, last week’s beef kill stood at 38,813 head (compared to 34,032 during the same week last year).
The inclusion of last week’s kill brings the total (excluding this week) for the year-to-date to 319,137 head, compared to 290,214 head during the corresponding period in 2021.
Breakdown of last week’s kill:
- Young bull: 2,864;
- Bulls: 531;
- Steers: 12,438;
- Cows: 8,249;
- Heifers: 10,729.
Beef kill at DAFM plants in 2022 [Source: The DAFM’s beef classification and price reporting division]:
A | B | C | D | E | Veal | ||||
Week No | Week/Comm | YBull | Bull | Steer | Cow | Heifer | V | Z | Total |
1 | 1/3/2022 | 3030 | 925 | 8887 | 5217 | 8723 | 3 | 25 | 26810 |
2 | 1/10/2022 | 3955 | 311 | 11177 | 6319 | 10619 | 25 | 29 | 32435 |
3 | 1/17/2022 | 4279 | 262 | 11592 | 7055 | 10706 | 5 | 27 | 33926 |
4 | 1/24/2022 | 4206 | 365 | 12229 | 7599 | 10691 | 29 | 105 | 35224 |
5 | 1/31/2022 | 3691 | 329 | 12655 | 7955 | 11327 | 159 | 72 | 36188 |
6 | 2/7/2022 | 4135 | 469 | 12700 | 8052 | 11051 | 1773 | 40 | 38220 |
7 | 2/14/2022 | 3499 | 470 | 12947 | 7885 | 10751 | 3197 | 55 | 38804 |
8 | 2/21/2022 | 2924 | 567 | 12811 | 8138 | 10415 | 3817 | 35 | 38707 |
9 | 2/28/2022 | 2864 | 531 | 12438 | 8249 | 10729 | 3970 | 32 | 38813 |
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