More bite entered the beef trade last week after an extended period of price cuts and downward price pressure.

While factories are quick to quote prices of 370-375c/kg for steers and 380-385c/kg for factory-ready heifers, the number of cattle being purchased off the lower quotes are in the minority.

Regular beef finishers – with large numbers of in-spec cattle – are securing 380c/kg for bullocks and 390c/kg for heifers. That being said, the majority of cattle are moving at 375c/kg (steers) and 385c/kg (heifers).

In addition, as we approach the end of October, beef processors will be turning their attentions to building stocks for the Christmas market.

Looking at cows, the trade is best described as firm. Beef buyers are starting negotiations with farmers at 290-300c/kg for P-grade cows; 300-315c/kg is on the table for O-grade animals; and 315-340c/kg is being quoted for R-grade cows.

However, the location and demand of individual processing plants plays a role in the price being quoted to farmers for cows.

Weekly kill

During the week ending October 14, the number of cattle processed by Department of Agriculture beef export plants increased marginally.

That week, 38,796 cattle were slaughtered by beef processors – up from 38,744 the week before. During the same week in 2017, some 38,248 cattle were processed.

Young bull throughput contributed the most to this increase; the number of young bulls processed amounted to 2,985 head – a jump of 186 head.

In addition, the number of cows slaughtered increased slightly. The number of cows processed by Irish beef plants stood at 8,684 – an increase of 179 head.

However, all other categories registered a decrease compared to the previous week; some 16,966 factory-fit bullocks were slaughtered – a fall of 223 head.

Moving to heifers, 9,495 of these animals were processed during the week ending October 14 – down from 9,636 during the week before. Furthermore, some 18 fewer aged bulls were slaughtered.

Week-on-week beef kill changes (week ending October 14):
  • Young bulls: 2,985 head (+186 head or +6.6%);
  • Bulls: 560 head (-18 head or -3.1%);
  • Steers: 16,966 head (-223 head or -1.3%);
  • Cows: 8,684 head (+179 head or +2.1%);
  • Heifers: 9,495 head (-141 head or -1.5%);
  • Total: 38,796 head (+52 head or +0.1%).

Yearly kill

Moving to the overall kill in 2018, we can see that over 1.4 million cattle have been slaughtered in Ireland so far up to the week ending October 14.

Breaking this figure into individual categories, data from the Department of Agriculture’s beef kill database indicate that 159,570 young bulls have been processed.

Comparing this with 2017 levels, some 14,663 more young bulls have been slaughtered up to and including the week ending October 14.

Aged bull slaughterings are also running above last year’s levels; some 25,814 aged bulls have been purchased by the beef plants – an increase of 2,968 head when compared to 2017 figures.

Bullocks account for over 37% of the total kill; some 522,258 steers have been processed. However, in 2017, some 535,201 bullocks were slaughtered by this date.

Cow slaughterings in 2018 have also recorded a relatively high increase when compared to 2017 levels. So far this year, 309,115 cows have been slaughtered – an increase of 19,472 head compared to 2017.

Finally, looking at heifer throughput, slaughterings of these animals are up 21,732 when compared to 2017 figures. Up to and including the week ending October 14, some 376,872 heifers have been slaughtered.

Year-on-year beef kill changes:
  • Young bulls: 159,570 head (+14,663 head or +9.2%);
  • Bulls: 25,814 head (+2,968 head or +0.1%);
  • Steers: 522,258 head (-12,943 head or -2.4%);
  • Cows: 309,155 head (+19,472 head or +6.7%);
  • Heifers: 376,872 head (+21,732 head or +6.1%);
  • Total: 1,403,097 head (+48,458 head or +3.6%).