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Beef & Sheep Update 13th August

Cattle and Sheep in Wicklow Field, Ireland

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said that Minister McConalogue must clarify his intentions on the draft suckler scheme for 2023-2027, which is now out for public consultation as part of the new CAP Strategic Plan. “While farmers will understand the concept of a reference year, any suggestion that farmers would suffer a penalty on their payments for existing cows if they increase numbers would be unprecedented and unacceptable,” he said. “IFA has consistently sought a payment of €300 per suckler cow. This scheme must be the vehicle to do that, but we can’t have restrictive conditions. The Minister and the Department need to learn the lessons from the BEAM scheme, which turned what should have been a good news story into a negative,” he said.

Beef Price Update 12/08/21

Steer Base €4.20/4.30kg. Heifers €4.25/4.35kg. Higher deals larger lots. Y Bulls R/U €4.25/4.40Kg. Cows €3.60/4.00kg. Market strong. UK price strong. Dig in on price. 

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 31 (02.08.2021)

AnimalNumberChange prev. wk.% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls1,390▼-348 4%85,120▼-13,845 
Bull619▼-53 2%16,147▼-4,379 
Steer15,298▼-1,029 49%362,692▼-15,828 
Cow5,890▼-770 19%207,710▼-4,150 
Heifer7,775▼-842 25%279,461▼-30,714 
Veal-V4▲10%20,618▼-5,829 
Veal-Z21▼-1 0%1,088▲107
Total30,997▼-3,042 100%972,836▼-74,638 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 31 (02.08.2021)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Changeprev wkO3Changeprev wkP+3Changeprev wk
Steers460▲0450▼-1 434▼-3 402▼-5 
Heifers466▼-1 453▼-2 444▼-1 399▲0
Y Bulls443▼-8 431▼-7 414▼-2 413▲13
Cows0▲0391▼-2 370▼-1 359▼-2 

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
31.07.2021413.4415.1413.3415.3406404.5314.4
24.07.2021411.6413.9411.2412.8405.4402.7312
Change▲2▲3▲1▲2▲2▲1▲2
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)515.9518.9514.2518.7507.0503.2392.6

Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)

Country & Type10.08.201908.08.202007.08.2021
EU + Y Bulls€ 3.49€ 3.53€ 3.88
IE + Steers€ 3.45€ 3.75€ 4.26
UK + Steers € 3.58€ 4.15€ 4.84

Live Exports W/C 26.07.2021

Source: Bord Bia

Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said the lamb trade is steady. Sean Dennehy said factories are paying €6.20 to €6.30/kg for spring lamb, with deals to €6.35/kg for groups and larger lots.  He said “The cull ewes trade remains strong and cull ewes are making €3.30 to €3.60/kg”. 

Last week’s supply figure of 50,145 was back over 8,000 head on the previous weeks kill.  The year-to-date slaughter figures are back 136,015 on 2020.

The IFA Sheep Chairman said farmers should sell hard and move lambs as they become fit. 

Lamb Price Update 12/08/21

Spring Lamb €6.20/6.30kg. Higher deals groups and larger lots. Good Demand. Sell Hard. Ewes €3.30/3.60kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – Week 31 (02.08.2021)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets509▲231695814▼-91,406 
Spring Lambs41,850▼-7,471 643976▼-26,321 
Ewes and Rams7,780▼-818 185322▼-18,355 
Light Lambs6▲6111▲67
TOTAL50,145▼-8,052 1525223▼-136,015 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – Week 31 (02.08.2021)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)WK 31 Change prev wk2020Change prev yr
National Avg Price604.77▼-1 525.11▲80
YTD Avg676.59▼-2 528.71▲148

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
17/06/2021564.3565.5New season
24/07/2021527.1528.8New season
Change▼-37 ▼-37  
Price in c/kg(Incl VAT)654.8657.0 
Source: Bord Bia

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