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Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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NI beef quotes running over 40p/kg ahead of last year

September 2021 beef quotes

According to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), factories held quotes at the previous week’s levels this week.

The body reported, in its weekly outlook, that quotes for U-3 prime cattle ranged from 384-394p/kg.

In the corresponding week in 2020, processors quoted 350-358p/kg for in-spec U-3 grade heifers and steers.

Quotes for good quality O+3 cows, this week, continued to vary from 280-300p/kg, with the LMC expecting similar prices next week.

Beef prices:

“The deadweight prime cattle trade in NI remained under pressure last week with most prices back from the previous week.”

“The average steer price in NI last week was back 0.1p/kg to 390.8p/kg, with the R3 steer price up 1.6p/kg to 400.9p/kg.”

In the same week in 2020, the R3 steer price was 364.1p/kg, 36.8p/kg behind current levels.

Furthermore, the average NI heifer price last week fell by 1.4p/kg to 393.5p/kg, while the R3 heifer price dropped 0.2p/kg to 400.8p/kg. In the same week in 2020, the R3 heifer price was 365.7p/kg.

The average young bull price in NI last week was back 1.4p/kg to 379.7p/kg, while the R3 young bull price up 1.9p/kg to 390.2p/kg.

In contrast, the NI cow trade improved last week across most grades from the previous week.

The LMC reported that the average NI cow price increased by 0.4p/kg to 280.4p/kg, with the O3 cow price falling 1.2p/kg to 313.9p/kg.

Throughput

Last week, prime cattle throughput amounted to 6,762 head – an increase of 195 head on the 6,567 prime cattle plants processed the week prior.

However, this is back 200 cattle compared to the same week last year when prime cattle throughput totalled 6,962.

Meanwhile, 2,190 cows were processed in NI last week, an increase of 93 head from last week.

Exports and imports

Imports of cattle from ROI for direct slaughter in local plants last week totalled 308 prime cattle and 197 cows with no cattle imported from GB for direct slaughter.

Exports from NI to ROI for direct slaughter consisted of three prime cattle and 55 cows. According to the LMC, this brings cattle exports for direct slaughter from NI to ROI to 1,888 head during 2021 to date.

GB: September 2021 beef quotes

Meanwhile, this week, no cattle were exported to GB for direct slaughter.

In GB last week, the average steer price was up 0.8p/kg to 411.3p/kg with the R3 steer price down 0.5p/kg to 417.1p/kg. “This places the R3 steer price in GB at 16.2p/kg above the equivalent price in NI,” the LMC remarked.

Last week, the average heifer price in GB increased “marginally” to 410.4p/kg, up 0.3p/kg from the previous week.

The R3 heifer price fell 0.5p/kg to 417.7p/kg. “This places the R3 heifer price in GB at 16.9p/kg above the same price in NI,” the LMC pointed out.

The average cow price in GB fell by 0.9p/kg to 285.9p/kg, with the O3 cow price back 2.4p/kg to 311.3p/kg. “This puts the O3 cow price in GB at 2.6p/kg below the same price in NI,” the LMC added.

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