The beef trade continues to remain steady with prices on a par with previous weeks on the back of continued strong supply.
This is according to Bord Bia which also reports that trade was mixed across our key export markets.
Bord Bia says prices quoted by export meat plants remained relatively unchanged but showed a slight uplift in some categories. Steers were averaging at a base price of between €3.90 and €4.00/kg on the Quality Payment System. Heifers continued to trade at a base price of between €3.95 and €4.00/kg. These prices exclude the €0.12/kg bonus which is payable on in-spec QA animals. Prices paid for O grade cull cows were generally ranging between €2.95 to €3.15/kg.
In terms of throughput cattle supplies at export meat plants for the week ending 10th May stood at around 29,600 head, which was around 12% higher than the equivalent week in 2013. Cumulative supplies for the year to-date are running at around 67,000 head or almost 13% above the figures for the corresponding period last year. Cumulative supply of heifers are up around 17% on the corresponding period last year with steers and young bulls up by over 10% respectively.
In Britain, Bord Bia report reported cattle prices from the AHDB have eased with GB R4L grade steers averaging at Stg 354.8 pence/kg dw (equivalent to 433.9 cent/kg dw) for the week ended 10th May. Trade has been quite slow with demand remaining sluggish. However fine weather over the coming days may increase demand for steak cuts.
In France, the trade remains similar to previous weeks and prices remaining stable. A number of beef promotions are currently on going in a number of major retailers which is expected to help the trade. In Italy no significant changes have been reported with trade in line with previous weeks.
Northern Ireland
According to the Livestock and Meat Commission quotes from the plants this week for U-3 grade prime cattle ranged from 334-340p/kg including the in spec bonus. Quotes for early next week range from 330-334p/kg and producers are encouraged to liaise with the procurement staff of the individual plants as there are some variations in the payment structure and specifications across the plants.
The LMC outlines that throughput of prime cattle in the NI plants last week totalled 6,359 head compared to 7,089 head the previous week. Cow throughput was also back last week with 1,298 head slaughtered compared to 1,328 head the previous week. Total cattle throughput in the NI plants last week was 7,991 head, 8.7 per cent lower than the previous week. Imports of prime cattle from ROI for direct slaughter last week totalled 161 head, thelowest weekly import of 2014 to date. Meanwhile 143 prime cattle and16 cows were exported from NI to GB for direct slaughter last week with116 cows and 7 clean cattle exported to ROI for direct slaughter.
The LMC says average steer prices in NI last week were back by 3.6p/kg to 329.1p/kg while R3 steer prices were unchanged at 340.3p/kg. Average heifer prices were also back by 3.6p/kg to 335.3p/kg while the R3 steer price was back by 2.1p/kg to 340.8p/kg. The average young bull price in NI last week was back by 1.1p/kg to 305.4p/kg while the average cow price was back in the region of 2p/kg to 227.6p/kg