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Average GB prime cattle prices edge ever closer to 400p/kg
Wednesday, 7 April 2021
By Chris Gooderham
GB finished cattle prices rose for the sixth consecutive week to reach 396.1p/kg for the week ending 3 April, up 4.3p/kg on last week. The average price is now 60p higher than the same week last year, and 58p above the five-year average.
Estimated throughput fell 9.1% (3,000 head) on the week before to total 30,600 head. Slaughter levels will have been affected by the start of the Easter weekend, but the drop was still larger than we’ve seen during previous Easter periods. The drop in throughput will be continuing to support average prices. While throughput was ahead of last year through January and the first half of February, the last seven weeks have all seen throughput down on 2020. For the year to date, we estimate slaughter to be 7,700 head (1.7%) down on the same period in 2020.
Once again, all prime categories saw price increases this week, with averages for R4L steers now standing at 406.9p/kg.
Cull cow prices also rose this week, with the overall GB price lifting 2.9p to average 270.6p for the week ending 3 April. This time last year, cull cow prices fell 19p/kg and then remained at the lower level for a month. As a result, prices are now 59p above the same week in 2020 and 46p higher than the five-year average. Like prime, estimated slaughter for cull cows also dropped this week, down 11.4% (1,000 head) to 8,100 head.
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