Best demand for younger beef stock

UNDER age heifers continued to be the flavour of the week with processors, who have quoted slightly improved prices for all under age stock.

Demand is not so hot for older animals, with a price penalty of 6 cent/kg (2p/lb) applied at some factories.

The factories are doing a full week’s kill, but are not interested in large supplies of older cattle, focusing instead to younger stock to fill Christmas trade orders from the supermarket outlets.

Processors serving the supermarket trade will also require cattle for killing on Thursday and Friday of next week, and processing will return to normal during the second half of the following week.

Any farmer with under age heifers to sell should be getting 294 to 297 cents/kg (105p or 106p/lb) for R grade stock in the south of the country.

Add at least 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) to that price in the midlands, and the further north, the better it gets, with reports of over 110p/lb being paid for choice lots in the north west.

Prices on offer for O grade heifers range from 285 to 297 cents/kg (102p to 106p/lb) in general, but not a lot of deals are being done at the lower prices, except for lots with a high percentage of the lower grade cattle.

Mainly R grade young heifers are getting through with some Os at flat prices of around 106p/lb.

The trade for the younger heifers is as good as it gets. Under age bullock prices are mostly 3 to 6 cents/kg (1p or 2p/lb) lower than the heifers.

For the over age stock, some of the factories were offering up to 289 cents/kg, but in general they were being discounted by 6 cents/kg (2p/lb), and ranged from 283 to 286 cents/kg (101 or 102p/lb) for Rs, and 274 cents/kg (98p/lb) for Os.

The cow trade has, at best, held similar to last week. But some factories have eased prices. Base prices on offer for cows this week range from 212 to 224 cents/kg. However, it is well worth shopping around for cow prices, with up to 11 cents/kg (4p/lb) over the quoted base prices attainable for good quality cows. The supply of cows is continuing strong, with intake remaining above last year’s level.

There has been a slight improvement in demand for beef in Britain, resulting from promotions, but strong cattle supply has resulted in prices to UK farmers easing by 3 to 6 cents/kg (1p or 2p/lb). Continental markets have not been exciting the past week.