Base quotes in beef plants across Northern Ireland this week ranged from 356- 368p/kg for in-spec U-3 grading steers and heifers.
That is according to the Livestock and Meat Commission which noted that the majority of plants quoting in the range of 360-366p/kg.
“Quotes for O+3 grading cows this week ranged from 240-265p/kg. Similar quotes for all types of cattle are expected next week.”
“With such a range in quoted prices, producers are encouraged to shop around for the best deal available.”
Throughput
Prime cattle throughput in NI last week totalled 6,629 head, back 263 head from the previous week. In the same week in 2019, prime cattle throughput in local plants totalled 6,789 head.
Meanwhile, cow throughput has remained firm with 2,412 cows processed in NI last week. In the same week in 2019, cow throughput in local plants totalled 2,246 head.
Imports
Imports for direct slaughter from ROI last week included 143 prime cattle and 88 cows which was back when compared to previous weeks. A further 37 cows were imported from GB for slaughter in local plants last week.
Exports of cattle from NI to ROI for slaughter last week included five prime cattle and 114 cows.
Meanwhile, for the tenth consecutive week, no cattle made the journey from NI to GB for direct slaughter.
Beef prices in Northern Ireland
The average steer price in NI last week increased by a penny from the previous week to 367.9p/kg, according to the LMC.
The R3 steer price meanwhile decreased by 1.7p/kg to 375.1p/kg. Also, the average heifer price in NI last week was back by just over half-a-penny to 368.6p/kg. The R3 heifer price increased marginally to 376.4p/kg. The average young bull price in NI last week was 349.4p/kg, back by 2.8p/kg from the previous week.
“There was a mixed performance across the grades last week with the biggest increase reported in U3 grading young bulls of 3.7p/kg to 368.9p/kg.”
There was an increase in the average cow price in NI last week, up by 2.8p/kg to 242.6p/kg with the O3 cow price up by a similar margin to 267.8p/kg.
GB
The deadweight trade for prime cattle in GB came under pressure last week compared to the previous week. The average steer price was back by 4.6p/kg to 367.8p/kg. Also, the average R3 steer price decreased by a similar margin to 374.6p/kg.
The R3 steer price reported decreases across all of the GB regions last week with the strongest decline reported in Scotland of 8.5p/kg to 378.8p/kg.
The average heifer price in GB last week was back by 3.3p/kg to 367.8p/kg with the R3 heifer price back by almost 5p/kg to 372.9p/kg.
The R3 heifer price also reported decreases in all regions last week again most notably in Scotland with the R3 heifer price back 9p/kg to 379.6p/kg. Meanwhile, last week the O3 cow price in GB held steady from the previous week at 247.3p/kg, this is 20.5p/kg below the NI price.
ROI
The deadweight trade continued to improve in ROI last week with reported prices up for all types of cattle from the previous week.
The R3 steer price increased by the equivalent of 5.4p/kg to 342.9p/kg. The R3 heifer price was up by 5p/kg to 348.1p/kg.
The O3 cow price in ROI increased by the equivalent of 5.5p/kg to 269.1p/kg last week. This is 1.3p/kg higher than the O3 cow price in NI.
