Deadweight cattle prices finally break the £4/kg barrier

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

By Chris Gooderham

Deadweight cattle prices rose above £4/kg for the first time this week, with the GB all-prime average gaining 4.4p to reach 403.7p/kg for the week ending 17 April. This is nearly 80p/kg more than the equivalent week in 2020, when prices were falling sharply.

Estimated prime slaughter during the week totalled 32,300 head, 9.6% higher than the week before and 9.5% above the same week last year. However, both comparison weeks contained a bank holiday due to Easter.

GB deadweight prime cattle price movements (w/e 17 April):

  • All prime: 403.7p/kg up 4.4p
  • Steers (overall): 403.9p/kg up 3.7p
  • Steers (R4L): 413.8p/kg up 5.0p
  • Heifers (overall): 404.6p/kg up 5.6p
  • Young bulls (overall): 395.7p/kg up 3.1p

Cow trade also rose, with the overall GB price up another 2.5p to 276.4p/kg. Those meeting –O4L spec gained 5.3p on the week to reach 295.6p/kg. Numbers slaughtered rose compared with last week and last year, at 9,700 head. That is 18% above last week, and 8% above the same week last year, but such comparison should be treated with caution due to the bank holidays in both the comparison weeks.

Image of staff member Chris Gooderham

Chris Gooderham

Science and Environment Director

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