Latest news with #LivestockandMeatCommission
Agriland
16-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Factory quotes: Beef prices cut for third consecutive week
This week's factory quotes for beef cattle sees prices cut for the third consecutive week, with a further 10c/kg taken off price offers. Weekly kill numbers are low – remaining below 30,000 head – with this decline being caused by a reduced cow kill as heifer and steer (bullock) supplies remain firm for the time of year. Factory sources have informed Agriland that there is a push to get base prices back towards €7.00/kg, but farm lobby groups have hit out at the move by factories to reduce prices. UK beef prices have also been in decline in recent weeks with the average deadweight 'U3' steer price, excluding premiums, at £6.59/kg in the week ending Saturday, June 7. This price was down from £6.69/kg the previous week, according to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC). Factory quotes: Heifers and steers This week, most outlets are quoting €7.20/kg for steers and €7.30/kg on the grid for heifers. While these are the official quotes for this week, most outlets that had cattle pre-booked are paying €7.30/kg and 7.40/kg on the grid for these steers and heifers respectively. Despite this, procurement staff have said the reduced price rates will take hold and have not ruled out further price cuts in the coming weeks. Breed bonuses of up to 30c/kg remain available for eligible Angus heifers and steers, but most outlets are paying an Angus bonus of 20-25c/kg. The Hereford breed bonus is at 15c/kg at most sites this week, with some outlets offering less and others offering more. Cow price 'U' grade cows are being quoted at up to €7.20/kg at the higher-end of the scale, with offers of €6.90-7.00/kg more common. 'R' grade cows are being quoted at up to €7.00/kg, with €6.80-6.90/kg more common offers for these. 'O' grade cows are being quoted at €6.50-6.60/kg and 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €6.40-6.50/kg. There remains considerable variation in cow price even within grades, depending on cow carcass weight and specification. Bulls Under-24-month bulls are being quoted at €7.40-7.50/kg for 'U' grades, with 'R' grade bulls being quoted at €7.30-7.40/kg. 'O' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.20-7.30/kg and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.10-7.20/kg. Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €7.20/kg on the grid.
Agriland
09-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Factory quotes: Move to pull beef price continues this week
This week's factory quotes for beef cattle has seen most processors reduce their beef price offers for the second consecutive week. The move has seen 20c/kg taken off the base price in the past two weeks. One factory agent told Agriland he expects base price for prime cattle to move back towards €7/kg over the coming weeks. The move to reduce prices since the June Bank Holiday weekend has come as a surprise, as overall beef kill numbers are expected to be tight. But UK and Northern Ireland beef prices are also in decline. According to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), the average deadweight prices excluding premiums in Northern Ireland for the week ending May 31 was £6.69/kg for 'U-3' grade steers and £6.68/kg for 'U-3' grade heifers. Cows grading 'O+3' averaged £5.66/kg. Factory quotes: Heifers and steers This week, heifers are being quoted at €7.40/kg on the grid, while bullocks (steers) are being quoted at €7.30/kg on the grid in general. Some heifers and steers booked in since last week are managing to secure last week's prices, which are up to 10c/kg higher, but procurement bosses sound adamant the lower prices will set in across the trade. Breed bonuses of up to 30c/kg for Angus and 20-25c/kg for eligible Hereford cattle remain available. Cow price Cow price has fallen again this week also, with one Co. Donegal-based outlet having also dropped its 10c/kg carcass bonus for cows. Despite this, up to €7.30/kg is being tabled this week for 'U' grade cows, with €7.00-7.10/kg available for 'R' grade cows. 'O' and 'P' grade cows are being quoted at €6.70/kg and €6.60/kg respectively for fleshed cows with good carcass weights. There remains plenty of variation in cow price between outlets, with some factories stronger on price than others for cows of different carcass specifications. Bulls Looking at under-24-month bull price quotes, 'U' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.60-7.70/kg this week, with €7.50-7.60/kg being quoted for 'R' grade bulls. 'O' and 'P' grade bulls are being quoted at €7.40/kg and 7.30/kg respectively. Under-16-month bulls are being quoted at €7.30-€7.40/kg on the grid this week.
