In the week ended 11 February, the cattle trade was again generally steady across the board according to the latest analysis by AHDB Beef & Lamb. At 349.3p per kg deadweight (d.wt.), the GB all-prime average was back just less than a penny on the week earlier.
Demonstrating the fine balance in the trade, this means that the measure has fluctuated around the 350p/kg d.wt. mark since the start of this year. On a somewhat positive note, it is worth documenting that, on average, prices have started the year around 20p ahead of the position they were in at the start of 2016.
In the latest week, some degree of stability was evident across most cattle categories. Bullocks meeting R4L specification were back a penny on the week at 362.8p/kg, while heifers at the same spec were almost unchanged at 361.9p/kg. R3 young bulls moved up a penny to 339.8p.
Given that reports suggest that product is moving well through retailers, the supply side of the equation is the main reason prices are holding firm at the present time. Processors are active in the market, so much so that, in some cases, in order to secure the right cattle to match their retail orders, they are having to pay more than they would ideally like to.
Cows sold dearer, with those meeting -O4L specification moving up another penny on the week to 244.3p/kg d.wt.
Market round-up
United Auctions sold 723 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 295.5p per kg and an average of 225.5p (+12.1p on the week), while 1127 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 354.2p and levelled at 230.8p (+6.3p). Fifty-two store, B&W bullocks sold to 161.9p and averaged 149.7p (+7.6p).
In the rough ring 92 beef cows sold to £1570 per head and 218.8p per kg to average 138.3p (+8.3p), while 31 dairy cows peaked at £955 and 129.4p to level at 98p (+6.2p).
C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 5 prime heifers in Dumfries on Wednesday to a top of 222p and an average of 203p, while 4 prime bullocks peaked at 164p and levelled at 162.4p.
In the rough ring 28 beef cows sold to £1047.80 and 153p to average 125p, while 33 dairy cows peaked at £1207.50 and 124p to level at 108.6p.
The firm also sold 610 prime hoggs to a top of £85.50 per head and 222p per kg to average 168.1p (+2.5p).
A nice show of 433 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £96.50 for Texels and average £72.81 (+£7.93), while light ewes peaked at £64.50 for Blackfaces and levelled at £41.58 (-£2.59).
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here