British cattle supplies down

PRIME cattle supplies in Britain are down by 3% for the first half of 2007, a reduction of 29,000 head when compared to 2006, according to the latest returns from the British Meat and Livestock Commission.

There has been a 10% drop in the supply of young bulls for the January-June period and heifers dropped by 3%. The intake of bullocks at the factories remained steady over the first half year.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of cows being slaughtered — up 70% — equivalent to an additional 91,000 head. A big increase in cow numbers at the factories had been expected following the lifting of the OTM restriction in 2006, but for most of the year the intake lagged behind the predictions. However the reverse had been the outcome for 2007 to-date.

After the ban on exports from Britain — which was imposed because of the two outbreaks of FMD in Surrey — the supply situation for the remainder of the year will be watched with interest as a determining factor in the export demand for Irish beef.

Average carcass weight has increased by 2% at 334kg and the total beef and veal output is expected to be up by 5% due to the volume of older animals kill entering the food chain. According to the MLC, total production of beef and veal is expected to increase by almost 5% for the year as a whole with a forecast for 880,000 tonnes.

Imports are forecast to be just under 2% higher at 300,000 tonnes — an increase of 5,000 tonnes -— and exports are predicted to be up by 63%, although coming from a low base of 46,000 tonnes in 2006, the increase will mean no more than 31,000 tonnes.

Consumption for the year is projected to rise by 18,000 tonnes, which will boost import requirements to 300,000 tonnes.

The early lifting of the export ban will mean little loss from the expected exports for the year which had been feared in recent weeks.