Last week saw the lowest weekly beef kill recorded in 11 months according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

At 28,152 last week’s throughput at meat plants was the lowest since late August 2013, excluding the three-day ‘week’ at Christmas. The kill was the lowest so far this year and was also marginally lower than the same week last year. Cumulative supplies since the beginning of the year are now running some 13% ahead of 2013 at 903,157.

The steer kill was over 10,000 again this week for the third week in a row and is some 18% ahead of the same week last year. So far this year a total of 281,638 steers have been killed up 16% on 2013 at this stage.

Last week saw the heifer kill below 7,000 for the second week in a row. This is well below the 9,000 mark which has been reached on many occasions this year. In contrast to steers the heifer kill is below the same week last year which was over 7,000.

The cow kill last week was 7,479 head more or less similar to the same week last year.

Prices

According to latest reports from the ICSA steer prices remain unchanged this week at €3.70/kg – €3.75/kg base. Heifers are up slightly at €3.75/kg – €3.80/kg. Quality bulls are making €3.60 – €3.80/kg and cows are between €3.30 – €3.50/kg.