2022 June Beef Prices
As anticipated, beef prices for some categories fell across plants in Northern Ireland this week (June 2022).
The LMC (Livestock and Meat Commission) reported declines across most grades for the week commencing Monday, June 27th, 2022.
- The average heifer price in NI last week was 436.8p/kg, back 1.3p/kg from the previous week. Meanwhile, the average R3 heifer price was 446.7p/kg, back 0.4p/kg from the previous week;
- The average young bull price in NI last week was 429.3p/kg up by a marginal 0.2p/kg from the previous week. The R3 young bull fell by 0.6p/kg to 439.5p/kg;
- The average cow price in NI last week was up by 1.5p/kg to 361p/kg, while the O3 cow price rose by 1.2p/kg to 386.9p/kg;
- The average steer price was unchanged from the previous week at 437.7p/kg, with the R3 steer price back by 0.7p/kg to 446.8p/kg.
All in all, the LMC reported that base quotes for in-spec U-3 grade prime cattle – steer and heifers – this week ranged from 420- 434p/kg.
Quotes for “good” quality O+3 grade cows this week varied from 334-376p/kg. The LMC expects factories to place “similar quotes” on the table early next week.
Throughput
Last week, 7,147 prime cattle were processed in beef processing plants in Northern Ireland.
The LMC’s figures show that this was up by 123 head from the 7,024 prime cattle processed during the previous week.
Numbers remained ahead of the 6,183 prime cattle slaughtered locally in the corresponding week in 2021.
Cow throughput rose last week with 2,139 cows processed in NI plants.
This was up from the 1,975 cows processed during the previous week and 392 head higher than the same week in 2021 when 1,747 cows were processed locally.
Exports and imports
The LMC reported what it described as a “strong” uplift in direct slaughter imports.
480 prime cattle were imported from ROI for processing in NI plants, compared to 253 prime cattle imported from ROI the previous week.
The number of cows imported to NI last week from ROI was also up to a total of 158 head, compared to 129 head the week before. Meanwhile, there continues to be no cattle imports from GB for direct slaughter in NI.
In contrast, cattle exports from NI for slaughter in ROI plants were down last week.
The consignment consisted of two prime cattle, 42 cows and four bulls, totalling 48 head.
In the week previous, 119 cattle were exported out of NI to ROI for direct slaughter.
For a fifth week in a row, no cattle made the journey from NI to GB for direct slaughter.
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