LMC: Quotes Steady As Top Live Heifers Fetch 230p/kg
UK - Live sales saw top steers and heifers over 220p/kg as some heifers fetched prices as high as 230p/kg, report market analysts at the Livestock and Meat Commission Northern Ireland.
11 June 2013
3 minute read
U-3 Base Quotes Remain Steady
Quotes from the plants for U-3 grade prime cattle this week generally ranged from 378-380p/kg with one plant continuing to quote a base price of 376p/kg for steers. Quotes for good cows this week have remained steady at 290-310p/kg.
With the good weather this week the plants have reported a tightening in supplies of cattle as taking cattle to the plants is not a priority for many producers as attempts are made to get caught up with a back log of field work.
Prime cattle slaughterings in NI last week totalled 6,722 head, back 200 head on the previous week. Prime cattle slaughterings for 2013 to date are running four per cent ahead of the same period in 2012.
The cow kill last week was also back on the previous week, down 300 head to 1,549 head with the cow kill for the year to date running eleven per cent ahead of the same period last year. Exports to GB for direct slaughter last week totalled 307 head with 198 cattle exported to ROI for direct slaughter.
A total of 446 prime cattle were imported from ROI for direct slaughter in NI plants last week. Average steer prices in NI last week increased by half a penny to 378.4p/kg with theR3steer price up slightly to 385.0p/kg.
The average heifer price in NI last week was up 2.8p/kg to 382.7p/kg while the R3 heifer price increased by2.1p/kg to389.3p/kg. The trade for young bulls also improved in NI this week with average prices up 3.4p/kg on the previous week to 357.8p/kg.
The R3 young bull price increased by 5.6p/kg to 372.4p/kg while the O3 price was up 2p/kg to 354.1p/kg. Average steer and heifer prices in GB last week were back in the region of 1p/kg to 400.2p/kg and 397.5p/kg respectively.
A similar trend can be observed for steers across all of the GB regions where prices are back in the range of 1-2p/kg. The average R3 steer price in GB last week was down marginally to 401.6p/kg.
Meanwhile average heifer prices in GB declined in the region of 3p/kg in Northern England, the Midlands and Southern England but increased in Scotland by 2.9p/kg to 409p/kg. The R3 heifer price in GB last week was back 1.8p/kg on the previous week at 398p/kg.
Prices in ROI showed an increase in sterling terms for all reported grades. The R3 steer price increased by the equivalent of 3.6p/kg to 378.3p/kg with the R3 heifer price up 3p/kg to 399.3p/kg.
This Weeks’ Marts
Finished first quality steers sold to an average of 221p/kg liveweight this week with second quality finished steers selling to an average of 200p/kg. Finished heifers sold to a top price of 230p/kg liveweight this week with first quality selling to an average of 220p/kg and second quality selling to an average of 195p/kg.
Forward store cattle were a similar trade to previous weeks with first quality bullocks in the 400 500 kg weight range selling to an average of 216p/kg liveweight. Heifers over 450kg sold to a top price of 215p/kg with first quality heifers selling to an average of200p/kg.
Second quality heifers in the same weight range sold to an average of 176p/kg.
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