Supplies of prime cattle to meat plants are back 3% so far this year and this has seen beef prices rise to as high as €4.30/kg.
Bord Bia says the cattle trade is continuing to move upwards on the back of continued strong demand with little change in supply.
However it does note that the trade across our key export markets trade has eased somewhat last week.
IFA’s latest cattle price update:
- Steers: €4.10/kg-€4.15/kg.
- Heifers: €4.20/kg-€4.30/kg.
- Bulls: €4.05/kg-€4.25/kg for R/Us.
- Cows: €3.30/kg-€4.00/kg.
The latest cattle supplies at export meat plants for the week ending January 24 were in line with supplies for the same week last year standing at around 31,700 head.
Cumulative supplies for the year to date are back 2%. Supplies of prime cattle continue to be back 3% on year previous levels.
In Britain, Bord Bia says reported cattle prices from the AHDB have firmed with GB R4L grade steers averaging at Stg 374.3p/kg dw (equivalent to 497.21c/kg dw) for the week ended January 24.
It says the trade has eased this week particularly for round cuts, most hind quarter cuts and striploins with the colder weather impacting the trade. Trade was best for rumps and fillets.
In France few changes were reported in the market, according to Bord Bia. While in Italy, it says demand for most cuts has slowed with best demand reported for half carcase forequarter cuts.