Search our website enhanced by Google.
Irish cattle kill back on track
Thursday, 1 October 2020
A total of 1.32 million cattle have been processed in Ireland up to the week commencing 21 September, according to Irish government figures. This is 4% (51,000 head) more than last year.
Some of the uplift will be due to steep fluctuations in weekly slaughter last year between August-September; not necessarily that more cattle are being processed in 2020. Up until the end of July this year, cattle kill was around 2% below that of 2019.
Both prime cattle and cow slaughter are up 3% so far this year compared to 2019, again likely attributed to last year’s fluctuations. The June population survey suggests that numbers of cattle available to kill will be lower for the rest of 2020.
Live cattle exports continue to run below those seen last year, being down 13% overall up until the week ending 19 September. This is predominantly due to fewer calves being shipped into other EU markets, in particular to the Netherlands. Exports of fresh and frozen beef for January-July are down 8% from last year’s levels, at 210,300 tonnes.
Average Irish R3 steer prices are currently running about 20 eurocents above where they were last year, with R3 steers averaging €3.63/kg in the week ending 20 September. However, the average prices were tracking around 7 eurocents per kilo lower than the EU average in the latest week, and over 43 eurocents below the equivalent UK price.
Sign up for regular updates
You can subscribe to receive Beef and Lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.
While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.