The latest figures for Northern Ireland beef prices this month show that factories increased young bull, steer, and cull cow prices but Heifers experienced a slight downturn.
Base quotes from NI processors for U-3 grade steers and heifers “strengthened” and ranged from 392-406p/kg. The trade for cows continued to build, with quotes for good quality O+3s in the region of 280-326p/kg across factories.
LMC March beef statistics
– The average heifer price in NI last week – slight increase of 0.1p/kg to 407.7p/kg with the R3 heifer price up by 1.5p/kg to 417p/kg
– The average young bull price in NI last week – up by 7.8p/kg to 392.8p/kg. The R3 young bull price was up 2.4p/kg to 401.7p/kg
– The average steer price rose by 0.8p/kg to 407.9p/kg, while the R3 steer price was up by 0.7p/kg to 416.9p/kg
– The cow trade strengthened last week. The NI average cow price was up by 1.9p/kg to 301p/kg, while the O3 cow price “strengthened” 6p/kg to 328p/kg.
Supplies of prime cattle for slaughter last week amounted to 6,832 head across local plants, up 934 head compared to the corresponding week in 2021 when prime cattle throughput was 5,898 head.
Cow throughput in NI last week totalled 2,046 head. This was back 122 head from the week before, and 377 head more than during the same week in 2021.