April 29, 2021, 10:31 am
It has been confirmed by Joe Burke from Bord Bia, that the cattle supply available for slaughter is
expected to take a hit by 100,000-120,000 head during 2021.
It has been no secret to beef farmers over recent weeks that there has been a shortage of supplies available to meet demand, evident from the eagerness of factories to source cattle.
These latest figures released by Bord Bia have been revised from earlier projections presented back in January 2021, when supplies were forecasted to be reduced by 60,000-80,000 head.
Why are supplies back?
Speaking about the reasoning behind fewer cattle being available, Joe Burke explained:
February 23, 2021 5:00 pm
It’s a case of business as usual for prices quoted for bullocks and heifers this week, with some factories remaining coy on their levels of demand.
The general prices being quoted this week are seeing steers and heifers starting off at €3.70/kg. Reports of finishers digging in their heels are seeing quotes moving up to €3.75/kg for heifers and some steers, provided they are in-spec.
Speaking to
AgriLand, Brendan Golden, the chairperson of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) National Livestock Committee, stated:
Winter finishers need every penny they can get at the moment when they are killing their cattle – with the price of inputs going up their backs are to the wall.
Beef trade: Quotes holding steady for the moment
The general vibe for beef quotes this week is that the ship is holding steady; however, there are some plants trying to implement change.
There has been a slight blip in prices quoted by some plants this week, as talk began last Friday of some processors reducing quotes.
It can be hard to know whether it’s a case of plants getting access to cattle more easier or they are simply applying pressure in order to reduce prices.
Some plants are working off a reduced kill this week, while others have mentioned that supplies of processed meat is becoming a challenge to ship through ports.