NI beef: Prime cattle up, but cows ‘under pressure’

NI beef prices august 2022

Beef prices were up a notch across plants in Northern Ireland (NI) this week (August 2022).

That is according to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), which reported that base quotes from plants ranged from 412- 434p/kg for in-spec U-3 grade in-spec steers and heifers.

On the other hand, the deadweight trade for O+3 grade cows also “came under pressure” early this week, with plants placing between 330-360p/kg on the table.

LMC expects that a “similar” trade will prevail for all cattle types next week.

According to the LMC:

• The average heifer price in NI last week fell by 0.8p/kg to 427.4p/kg, while the R3 heifer price was back by half a penny to 435.3p/kg;
• The average steer price was 423.2p/kg, down 2.6p/kg from the previous week, while the R3 steer price was back by 1.2p/kg to 435.2p/kg;
• The average young bull price in NI last week dropped by 5.3p/kg to 414.4p/kg, while the R3 young bull price was back 2.1p/kg from the week prior to 425.7p/kg;
• The average cow price back by 3.2p/kg to 340.7p/kg, while the O3 cow price was down by 4.2p/kg to 367.5p/kg.
• Throughput

Prime cattle slaughterings in local plants last week amounted to 6,469 head, bringing the prime cattle throughput for the last six weeks to 36,173 head.

This is down 4.6% (-1,727 head) from the corresponding period in 2021, when prime cattle throughput totalled 37,900 head.

Cow slaughterings in NI last week stood at 2,186 head, which brings cow throughput for the last six weeks to 12,840 head, 973 head more than the 11,867 cows slaughtered in the same period last year.

Imports and exports

Cattle imports from ROI last week for direct slaughter comprised 368 prime cattle and 103 cows, with no cattle imported from GB.

Meanwhile, exports from NI for direct slaughter in ROI comprised two prime cattle and 39 cows.

For a fifth week in a row, no cattle made the journey to GB for direct slaughter.

Other articles on That’s Farming:

Prices to €5.86/kg as farmers and exporters ‘very active’ at Ennis