The beef trade improved slightly during the week for certain categories of cattle with strong supplies still evident. In most of our key export markets, demand is showing signs of some recovery as we approach the Summer.
Prices quoted by export meat plants continued to remain steady. Steers were on average purchased at a base price of between €3.90 and €3.95/kg on the Quality Payment System. Heifers traded at a base price of between €3.95 and €4.00/kg. These prices exclude the €0.12/kg bonus which is payable on in-spec QA animals. Prices paid for O grade cull cows edged upwards and are now making between €2.95 to €3.10/kg.
Cattle supplies at export meat plants for the week ending 19th April stood at just over 31,700 head, which was down around 500 head on the previous week. Supply was over 3,500 head or 13% higher than the equivalent week in 2013. Cumulative supplies for the year to-date are running at around 58,000 head higher.
In Britain, reported cattle prices from the AHDB showed little change with GB R4L grade steers averaging at Stg 366.8 pence/kg dw (equivalent to 445.7 cent/kg dw) for the week ended 19th April. Trade has eased somewhat following the Easter period. Best demand reported is for steak cuts.
Across our key export markets, there continues to be a seasonal shift from forequarter cuts to hindquarter cuts.
| Week Ending | % Change | Average to Date | % Ch | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 20.04.2013 | 19.04.2014 | Prev.Week | Prev.Year | 2013 | 2014 | ||
| Steers | O3 | 4.07 | 3.60 | 0.3 | -11.5 | 3.91 | 3.64 | -6.9 |
| O4 | 4.09 | 3.60 | -0.3 | -12.0 | 3.92 | 3.66 | -6.6 | |
| R3 | 4.23 | 3.75 | 0.0 | -11.3 | 4.08 | 3.81 | -6.6 | |
| R4 | 4.24 | 3.75 | 0.3 | -11.6 | 4.08 | 3.81 | -6.6 | |
| U3 | 4.27 | 3.87 | 1.0 | -9.4 | 4.16 | 3.89 | -6.5 | |
| Young Bulls | O3 | 3.91 | 3.16 | 1.0 | -19.2 | 3.88 | 3.20 | -17.5 |
| R3 | 4.11 | 3.49 | 0.6 | -15.1 | 4.01 | 3.48 | -13.2 | |
| U3 | 4.19 | 3.60 | 0.3 | -14.1 | 4.07 | 3.57 | -12.3 | |
| Heifers | O3 | 4.26 | 3.68 | 0.3 | -13.6 | 4.08 | 3.76 | -7.8 |
| O4 | 4.26 | 3.69 | 0.3 | -13.4 | 4.08 | 3.76 | -7.8 | |
| R3 | 4.47 | 3.89 | 0.3 | -13.0 | 4.28 | 3.95 | -7.7 | |
| R4 | 4.46 | 3.87 | 0.3 | -13.2 | 4.26 | 3.93 | -7.7 | |
| Cows | O3 | 3.48 | 2.85 | 1.1 | -18.1 | 3.38 | 2.83 | -16.3 |
| O4 | 3.51 | 2.87 | 1.1 | -18.2 | 3.41 | 2.85 | -16.4 | |
Source: Board Bia Ireland