Young bull and steer prices down in NI

This week’s NI beef prices

According to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), steer and young bull prices were down across plants in Northern Ireland this week.

Meanwhile, beef plants moved to increase both heifer and cull cow prices. Prices for O+3 grade cows continued to range from 260-290p/kg, with most plants quoting 290p/kg.

Processors quoted base quotes of 386-394p/kg for in-spec U-3 grade prime cattle, which was the same as the previous week.

All in all, the commission, described the beef trade as “steady”.

This week’s NI beef prices

• The average steer price fell by 0.8p/kg to 391.8p/kg, while the R3 steer price decreased by 0.5p/kg to 402.7p/kg. In the same week last year, the R3 steer price was 374.3p/kg, 28.4p/kg behind current levels.
• The average heifer price in NI was up by 2p/kg to 397.1p/kg, while the R3 heifer price rose by 1.5p/kg to 405.2p/kg;
• The average young bull price in NI decreased by 1.8p/kg to 377.6p/kg, while the R3 young bull price fell by 2p/kg to 387.5p/kg.
• Meanwhile, the NI cow trade reported a “mixed performance”, with the average cow price up 2.7p/kg to 271.5p/kg. “This is just over 28p/kg higher than the 242.9p/kg reported in the same week last year. The O3 cow price in NI was back 0.4p/kg to 301.2p/kg.

Throughput

Prime cattle throughput in local plants last week amounted to  7,420 head last week, up 96 head from the previous week.

Throughput of prime cattle has totalled 307,730 head for 2021 to date. The LMC pointed out that this is a decrease of 824 head on the same period last year when 308,554 prime cattle were processed locally.

Cow throughput in local plants last week totalled 2,881 head, up 46 head from the previous week.

Exports and imports

Furthermore, imports of prime cattle from ROI for direct slaughter in NI plants last week comprised 337 head with 158 cows also imported.

Besides, there were no cattle imported from GB for direct slaughter last week. Meanwhile, cattle exports from NI for slaughter in ROI plants comprised 44 cows.

A further 21 prime cattle and 13 cows were exported from NI to GB for direct slaughter.

• The average steer price in GB increased by 0.6p/kg to 413.5p/kg, while the R3 steer price increased by 2.1p/kg to 421.5p/kg. “This brings the differential between the GB and NI R3 steer price to 18.8p/kg.”
• The average heifer price in GB was up 0.7p/kg to 411.6p/kg, while the R3 heifer price was up 1.5p/kg to 421.6p/kg.
• The average GB cow price was back 0.1p/kg to 257.6p/kg, while the O3 cow price fell by 0.4p/kg to 284.1p/kg. “The GB cow trade remained under pressure last week with prices back across all grades.

ROI beef prices:

The LMC reported that in ROI, deadweight cattle prices “came under pressure”, adding that prices were back across all grades from the previous week.

“The R3 steer price decreased by 3.9p/kg to the equivalent of 353.2p/kg with the R3 heifer price back 4.5p/kg to 358.3p/kg.”

“The R3 young bull price was back 3.7p/kg to the equivalent of 340.3p/kg. Meanwhile the O3 cow price in ROI was back 5p/kg to 289.7p/kg, 11.5p/kg behind the O3 cow price in NI.

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