NI beef prices August 2021
According to the Livestock and Meat Commission, beef prices were back across plants in Northern Ireland this week.
Base quotes for in-spec U-3 grade steers and heifers ranged from 384-394p/kg across the major NI processing plants.
The cow trade also remained steady this week, with quotes for good quality O+3 cows ranging from 280-302p/kg.
NI beef prices August 2021
“Deadweight prime cattle prices in NI last week were generally back from the previous week with steer prices showing the most resilience.”
“Both the average steer price and the R3 steer price increased marginally to 393.3p/kg and 403p/kg, respectively.”
The average heifer price in NI last week was back by 1.6p/kg from the previous week to 395.3p/kg. Furthermore, the R3 heifer price back by 0.7p/kg to 401.9p/kg.
Last week, the average young bull price in NI recorded a decrease of 2.3p/kg to 383.1p/kg, with the R3 young bull price up by 1.2p/kg to 395.3p/kg.
Meanwhile, last week’s average NI cow price was back 5.6p/kg from the previous week to 288.9p/kg, with the O3 cow price back by 0.4p/kg to 315.6p/kg.
Throughput
Last week, prime cattle throughput in NI plants totalled 6,622 head, an increase of 242 head from the previous week. This is also an increase compared to the 6,117 prime cattle processed in the same week in 2020.
Meanwhile, a total of 2,023 cows were processed in NI plants last week. This is a slight increase from the previous week when 1,976 cows were processed and a 112 head decrease relative to the corresponding week last year.
Exports and imports
Imports of cattle from ROI for direct slaughter in local processing plants decreased last week to 302 prime cattle and 136 cows. No cattle were imported from GB for direct slaughter.
Exports from NI to ROI for direct slaughter also decreased with no prime cattle and 33 cows exported last week. Besides, 33 prime cattle and eight cows made the journey from NI to GB for processing.
GB beef prices
According to the LMC, the GB deadweight trade for prime cattle improved last week compared to the previous week.
The average steer price was up by 1.2p/kg to 406.4p/kg, while the R3 steer price increased by 1.8p/kg to 413.4p/kg. “This placed the GB R3 steer price 10.4p/kg above the R3 steer price in NI last week.”
Last week, the average heifer price in GB was 405.2p/kg, up 1.2p/kg from the previous week. The R3 heifer price increased by 2.1p/kg to 413.3p/kg.
“This puts the GB R3 heifer price 11.4p/kg higher than the equivalent price in NI last week.”
“The average cow price in GB decreased by 1.4p/kg to 292.4p/kg last week, with the O3 cow price up by 2p/kg to 319.2p/kg.”
ROI
The LMC added in ROI, last week, the R3 steer price was back 2.4p/kg to the equivalent of 366.2p/kg.
“This puts the differential between ROI and NI to 36.8p/kg. This equates to an additional £129 on a 350kg steer carcase.”
The R3 heifer price in ROI decreased by almost 4p/kg to 369.2p/kg last week, 32.7p/kg lower than the equivalent NI R3 heifer price.
“This differential equates to an additional £105 on a 320kg heifer carcase. The O3 cow price in ROI reported a decrease of 2.2p/kg to the equivalent of 301.7p/kg last week, almost 14p/kg below the O3 cow price in NI.”
