4 December 2012

3 minute read

Europe

Deadweight Cattle Trade

Base quotes from the plants this week for U-3 grade prime cattle are 326p/kg for steers and 328p/kg for heifers with the additional 8p/kg bonus available for in spec cattle.

While all reported grades for prime cattle showed an improvement in price on the previous week the biggest increase was in the R4 steer price which was up 6.6p/kg to 330.2p/kg.

There have however been reports that more is available than quotes would suggest, particularly for in spec cattle. The plants are reporting steady supplies of cattle with 6,884 prime cattle killed last week.

This is 180 more than the previous week and almost identical to the same week last year when 6,868 were slaughtered.

The quotes for first quality cows have remained at 260-275p/kg with the plants reporting strong supplies. There were 2,829 cows killed last week, a 24 per cent increase on the same week last year when 2,286 were killed.

Northern Ireland

The average steer price in NI last week was 322.6p/kg, up 3.3p/kg on the previous week while the average heifer price was up 5p/kg to 326.5p/kg. The young bull price also increased last week, up 5.8p/kg to 315.6p/kg.

Scotland

Average steer and heifer prices showed an increase in all regions of GB last week with average steer prices up 5p/kg and heifer prices up 6.1p/kg. There was however variance in the increases between the regions with steer and heifer prices in Scotland up in the region of 3p/kg while in the other UK regions average prices were up in the range of 5-9p/kg.

England

The biggest increase in price across the regions was for O3 grading heifers in Northern England which increased by 9.7p/kg to 349.8p/kg. The strong improvement in prices for many grades in Northern England last week resulted in the prices paid for steers and heifers in the region being very close to, and in some cases better than, Scottish prices.

Republic of Ireland

Prices in ROI last week showed increases for all reported grades in sterling terms. The R3 heifer price in ROI last week increased by 4.2p/kg to 321.1p/kg while the R3 steer price increased by 3.4p/kg to 307p/kg. The biggest increase was for O3 grading young bulls which increased the equivalent of 5.9p/kg to 296.8p/kg.

This Weeks Live Marts

Finished first quality steers sold to an average of 195p/kg in the marts this week, up 5p/kg on last week’s average.

In general however the trade for finished stock was fairly similar to last week with finished steers and heifers selling within similar ranges.

The good trade for well fleshed cows has continued with first quality beef cows selling to a top of 208p/kg with an average price of 170p/kg.

Dairy type cows sold within a similar range as last week (100-135p/kg).

Meanwhile the trade for first quality store cattle was similar to last week with stock selling within similar price ranges. However the trade for plainer type store cattle was generally back on last week with average prices back 10-15p/kg.

TheCattleSite News Desk