The cattle supply available for slaughter during 2021 has dropped by around 120,000 confirmed Joe Burke from Bord Bia.
Beef farmers are already aware that there has been a shortage of supplies available to meet demand and factories have been keen to source cattle.
Commenting on the cattle shortage Joe Burke said: “There are a few factors behind this reduction. The year of 2019, in particular, was very strong for calf exports, so many of them were exported out of the country at that time.
“Combining this with a reduction in young bull finishing, these young male animals which would have previously been slaughtered as young bulls, are now being slaughtered up to nine months older. This is likely to push more of these males to be slaughtered into next year.
“Finally, we have seen very strong exports to Northern Ireland, which as taken a lot of cattle out of the system.”
The latest figures released by Bord Bia have been revised from earlier forecasts that supplies would be reduced by 60,000 to 80,000 head in 2021.
LSL News.