There has been some uplift in trade across our key beef export markets following the return to work after the holiday season according to Bord Bia.
It says in Britain, reported cattle prices from the AHDB have risen with GB R4L grade steers averaging at Stg 355.1 pence/kg dw (equivalent to 428.1 cent/kg dw) for the week ended September 6. Bord Bia says the return to work and school after the holiday period has provided the trade in our most important market with some increased emphasis.
In Italy, Bord Bia says promotional activity coinciding with seasonal changes has helped the trade particularly for forequarter cuts. However more expensive cuts like fillets continue to be quiet. In Italy the R3 young bull price was €3.75/kg and the O3 cow price was €2.73/kg
In France the market continues to remain steady with little change reported.In France the R3 young bull price was €3.70/kg and the O3 cow price was €3.39/kg.
Here at home the cattle trade in recent days has been remains similar to the previous weeks, however better demand has been reported.
Bord Bia said prices have remained relatively steady. The majority of steers and heifers were purchased in recent days at a base price of around €3.60/kg on the Quality Payment System. These prices exclude the €0.12/kg bonus which is payable on in-spec QA animals. Prices paid for O grade cull cows are generally making between €2.95 to €3.10/kg.
Cattle supplies at export meat plants for the week ending 6th September stood at around 34,000 head, which was 10% higher than the equivalent week in 2013. Cumulative supplies for the year to-date are 13% above the figures for the corresponding period last year currently standing at 1.12 million head. Throughput of prime cattle continues to be up by 15%.