Cattle Prices Rise as UK Beef Production Falls

UK - Total UK beef production in January 2008 decreased by one per cent to 82,700 tonnes compared to 83,800 tonnes last January. According to a Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) bulletin, beef production decreased due to a six per cent fall in prime cattle slaughterings.

26 February 2008

2 minute read

Europe

This decrease led to price increases across the UK. The largest increase in price occurred in NI, where there was the biggest reduction in prime cattle supplies. NI prices increased by an average of 17p during January.

Prime slaughterings -6%

There was a six per cent fall in UK prime slaughterings to 193,000 head in January, but an increase in the average carcase weight resulted in only a four per cent fall in prime beef production to 65,500 tonnes. In NI prime slaughterings dropped by 19 per cent to 30,400 head, while in England and Wales the decrease was three per cent to 119,000 head. The prime kill in Scotland dropped four per cent to almost 43,700 cattle. The 19 per cent drop in prime slaughterings in NI resulted in the average price for R3/R4/O3/O4 grade steers and heifers increasing by 17p to 222p. In Scotland the equivalent grades increased by 9p to 227p, while in England and Wales they rose 16p to 223p.

Beef from adult cattle +10%

Beef produced from adult cattle increased by 10 per cent to 17,200 tonnes as slaughterings rose four per cent and the average carcase weight increased eight per cent. While the expected increase in beef production from cows and bulls offset some of the fall in prime beef production there was still an overall drop in production. As a result O3 cow prices in NI increased by 14p to 168p/kg during January, while in England and Wales they were up 23p at 153p. Scottish prices were 32p higher at 157p for O3 grades.