Beef & Sheep UpdateCattleSheep

Beef & Sheep Update 7th November

Cattle and Sheep in Wicklow field

IFA National Sheep committee chairman Sean Dennehy said strong competition between factories for the tight supplies of finished lambs has pushed prices paid this week on by 5 – 10c/kg.

Lambs are making €5.30/kg to €5.40/kg with deals to €5.50/kg available. The mart trade for fleshed lambs is outperforming factory prices in cases. Cull ewes are ranging from €2.60/kg to €2.85/kg

IFA Livestock chairman Brendan Golden strongly criticised the factory attempts to cut cow prices. Some factories dropped quotes by up 20c/kg. Prices paid remain stronger than quotes, good quality cows are making €3.20/€3.40/kg, P/O grade €2.70/€2.90/kg.

Market conditions are strong as the supermarket trade, which has performed well throughout the COVID-19 restrictions, build stocks for the Christmas trade.
Steers €3.60/3.65/kg, heifers €3.65/3.70/kg.

Brendan Golden called on the factories to reflect the market conditions of tighter projected supplies and strong supermarket demand by closing the current gap with the UK prices. Prices in our main export market are strong and steady at the vat inclusive equivalent of €4.45/kg for R4L steers.


BEEF MARKET UPDATE

Latest Beef Price Update 5th November 2020:

Steers €3.60-3.65/kg. Heifers €3.60-3.70/kg. Y bulls €3.50-3.80/kg. Cows €2.80-3.30/kg.

Week 43 Slaughter Figures
26/10/2020 – 01/11/2020
Animal Numbers % of Total Kill % Change from prev. Week
Steers 13,892 42% -16.4%
Heifers 9,355 28% -10.9%
Young Bulls 1,637 5% +4.4%
Cows 7,670 23% -2.7%
Total 33,178 -10.8%
Year to Date Slaughter Figures
  Numbers Change from 2019
TOTAL 1,502,267 +3.1%

Source: DAFM Weekly Beef Slaughter Figures

Official Irish Prices   Official GB Prices
Animal Euro/Kg Change from prev. week Animal GBP/Kg Change from prev. week Euro/Kg
R3 Steers €3.79 +0.3% R3 Steers £3.76 +0.3% €4.40
R3 Heifers €3.83 +0.5% R3 Heifers £3.76 +0.5% €4.40
Y Bulls O €3.43 +0.6% Y Bulls O £3.45 0% €4.04
R €3.63 +0.3% R £3.65 +0.8% €4.27
U €3.72 0% U £3.71 -0.8% €4.34
Cows O €3.06 0% Cows O £2.74 -1.1% €3.21
R €3.22 -1.2% R £2.84 -0.4% €3.33

Source: DAFM Average Prices, AHDB Deadweight Cattle Price Report

 

Source: European Commission

Live Exports:

Source: Bord Bia


SHEEP MARKET UPDATE

Latest Lamb Price Update 29th October 2020:

QA lambs getting €5.30-5.40/kg. Producer groups on slightly higher. Ewes €2.60-€2.85/kg.

Week 43 Slaughter Figures 26/10/2020 – 01/11/2020
Animal Numbers % Change from prev. Week % Change from same week 2019
Sheep 51,828 -15.6% -3.3%
Year to Date Slaughter Figures
  Numbers Change from 2019
TOTAL 2,421,474 +5%

Source: DAFM Meat Market Report, AHDB GB Deadweight Sheep Prices

Official Irish Prices Official GB Prices
  Euro/Kg % Change from same week in 2019   GBP/Kg Euro/Kg
Lamb €4.90 +20% Lamb £4.36 €5.11

Source: DAFM Meat Market Report


Source: European Commission

Live Trade: Total live exports stood at 24,807 head to the 01 October 2020

Select and Sell: As always, the advice is to move lambs as they become fit.

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