7 January 2013

3 minute read

Europe

There have however been reports of higher prices being paid than quotes would suggest, report the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland.

The average price paid for U-3 grade heifers last week was 344.9p/kg. Even if all heifers within this grade qualified for the 8p/kg bonus the price paid was still in the region of 5-7p/kg above the base quotes of 330-332p/kg. Producers should ensure that they shop around to get the best possible deal. Quotes for first quality cows have remained in the range of 264-275p/kg with plants reporting a strong supply of cows.

The average price paid for steers in NI last week increased by 3.2p/kg to 332.4p/kg while the heifer price increased by 3.6p/kg to 336.1p/kg. The young bull price however showed the biggest increase in the region, up 6.3p/kg to 326.0p/kg.

Average prices in GB also showed increases on the previous week with the steer price up 1.9p/kg to 366.4p/kg and the heifer price up 5.9p/kg to 367.3p/kg. The price differential between average GB and NI prices last week was 34p/kg for steers and 31.2p/kg for heifers.

Scotland

There was however variation in the level of price changes across the regions. Average steer and heifer prices in Scotland were almost unchanged on the previous week at 373.0p/kg and 370.1p/kg respectively while prices in other areas have shown strong increases.

England

The average heifer price in the Midlands increased by 9.7p/kg to 368.8p/kg while the steer price in the region increased by 6.5p/kg to 366.4p/kg. Meanwhile in Northern England the heifer price increased by 6.5p/kg to 366.8p/kg while the steer price was almost unchanged at 368.8p/kg.

Northern Ireland

The average price paid for cull cows in NI last week increased by 6.1p/kg on the previous week to 247.5p/kg. However cow prices in GB have shown stronger increases with average prices up between 17- 32p/kg on the previous week across the regions. The average cow price in GB last week was 263.7p/kg.

Comparison

This puts the price differential between average NI and GB prices for cull cows last week at 16.2p/kg. Prices in ROI have also shown increases for the majority of reported grades with reports of a decline in the availability of cattle over the last number of weeks. The R3 steer price in ROI last week increased the equivalent of 4.3p/kg to 321.5p/kg while the R3 heifer price was up 6.5p/kg to 339.0p/kg.

Republic of Ireland

The differential between ROI and NI prices last week for R3 grading steers and heifers was 14.8p/kg and 2.4p/kg respectively. Strong increases in cow prices were also reported in ROI with the price for O3 cows up the equivalent of 8.4p/kg to 270.6p/kg. In NI last week the O3 cow price was almost identical at 270.3p/kg.

TheCattleSite News Desk