Wide price variation revealed in factory returns for R-grade cattle
Positive vibes from the processing industry on the trade forward for beef for the year are being measured against the resistance of the factories on improved prices being paid to the producers.
Finishers were given a very positive outlook on prices for the months ahead at some recent information gatherings, sufficient to underpin confidence to the end of 2025.
The supply of cattle to the factories has continued to tighten, with the processors adjusting operations to the lower kill by reducing the number of days per week their slaughtering line operates.
Overall, the trade remains firm at last week's prices in general, while a slight improvement in prices is evident at the factories which were paying at the lower end of the scale.
The base for steers remains on 730–740c/kg, with up to 750c/kg being reported for some deals with the factories, while heifers are working off a base of 760c/kg and up to 770c/kg, and the cows remain a firm trade at 720–730c/kg going for R-grade this week.
However, prices compiled by the Department of Agriculture from factory returns show that the prices paid for similar-grade animals vary by close to 40c/kg in the same week.
The factory returns for the second week in May showed that while the overall average paid for R-3 steers across all of the export factories was 794c/kg, the average price paid at individual factories ranged from a leading 809c/kg to 770c/kg — equating to a difference of more than €140/head on a typical steer.
The average paid for similar grade heifers nationally was 790c/kg. Prices paid by the individual factories ranged from an average of 608c/kg to 769c/kg.
These prices are inclusive of bonus payments and penalties applied to the animals at the individual factory, and there is no breakdown to show if it includes over-age animals or if the animals were purchased on flat pricing rather than on the grid.
These factors can significantly change the actual average price/kg shown on the analysis, but the clear message is that significant price differences may exist between individual factories for the same type of animal.
The supply last week was 28,855 head, almost similar to the previous week, while running 2,500 head lower than the same week last year. The intake included 11,249 steers, 8,945 heifers, 6,059 cows, and 2,009 young bulls.
The steer intake was similar to the corresponding week last year, while each of the other categories was down on the 2024 supply.
Read More
Behind the closed door at the TB summit
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
Sustainable gains: Clover success for Co. Limerick dairy farmer
Irish livestock farming is evolving and farmers are embracing solutions to drive both profitability and sustainability. Niall Moloney is a multi-award-winning dairy farmer working alongside his father, Gerry, in Crecora, Co. Limerick. The 2018 Teagasc Young Grassland Farmer of the Year, Niall was then crowned Germinal Responsible Grassland Manager of the Year at the 2023 National Dairy Awards after showcasing his talent for sustainable dairy farming. Having been farming on almost 97ha over three blocks, Niall and his father acquired an additional 15ha to bring the total area farmed to 112ha over four blocks. By September 2024, they had grown their herd to 170 cows on a 51ha platform. Understanding soil fertility is foundational For Niall, understanding and nurturing soil fertility is crucial. He explained: 'We soil test every year, that's non-negotiable. Over the years, soil fertility will drop in some fields where you don't expect it to, and you can react a lot quicker and get those fields back to optimising growing grass again. 'I even pick grasses for different types of soil in different places on the farm,' he explains. This meticulous approach ensures that every paddock is performing at its best, laying the groundwork for producing quality grass and forage. Niall estimates that 60% of the farm is on dry, free-draining soil, while the remainder is on heavier, more peaty soils. Clover supports self-sufficiency Faced with increasing input costs and soaring fertiliser prices, and the uncertainties around the Nitrates Directive derogation, Niall turned to Germinal's Climate Smart clover mixtures to help him reduce chemical inputs and boost sustainability, while maintaining output and performance. 'We're trying to use clover as much as we can to reduce chemical nitrogen inputs, and it does work. 'In the past, when spreading first-cut silage, you were using an awful lot of fertiliser. With red clover silage, we've pretty much erased that. 'The results speak for themselves. You notice it straight away at the end of the year, especially when fertiliser was rising to €1,000 per tonne,' Niall said. Germinal's technical director, Dr. Mary McEvoy, highlights the impact: 'Clover has a lot to offer. We can maintain our improved quality of the feed, but the real win is the ability of clover to fix nitrogen, reducing the need we have for nitrogen fertiliser. 'The Department of Agriculture in Ireland continues to prioritise reducing emissions and using clover on farms. 'Farmers are responding and we are seeing a major uptake in the number of mixtures we are being asked for with a higher clover content compared to the past.' As part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Red Clover Silage Measure, Niall sowed a Germinal mixture across 16ac in 2022. Seeing the results, Niall sowed an additional 30ac in 2023. In a good year, he can produce 15t/ha of red clover silage. When reseeding with a red clover mixture, Niall aims for early April to get a quicker turnaround time. He completes two runs with the disc and uses a power harrow with a seedbox for sowing. Sustainable grassland tips When discussing the concept of performance plus sustainability, Niall explains that both are required if farmers are to be profitable and climate smart. Here's what Niall is doing to reduce emissions on-farm: Start from the ground up and soil test every year. Maintain correct soil pH with a liming programme. Only apply fertilisers where they are needed. Reseed underperforming fields with clover to maximise grass growth. Cut back on nitrogen fertiliser once clover is established, and particularly when temperatures rise and clovers are fixing nitrogen. Low emission slurry spreading – once permitted, get slurry out early under the right ground conditions. Use protected urea for an early top dressing of nitrogen. Performance plus sustainability Germinal has just launched five new Climate Smart seed mixture ranges designed to deliver on performance and sustainability for Irish grassland farmers. Niall is using Germinal's Red Clover Silage mixture from the Climate Smart RESTORE range. Ready to take control of your grass and forage production?
Agriland
2 days ago
- Agriland
2025 cattle export numbers approaching 250,000 head
2025 cattle export numbers to date are approaching 250,000 head, according to latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). As of Sunday, May 25, a total of 247,000 cattle have been exported, which is an increase of 34,000 head of cattle or 16% on the same time last year. 76% of all cattle exports are calves, accounting for almost 188,000 head of total cattle exports. The table below details cattle exports by type in the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025: 2023 2024 2025 2023/25 2024/25 Calves 178,395 165,836 187,985 +5% +13% Weanlings 13,486 12,926 21,196 +57% +64% Stores 8,984 14,965 14,896 +66% – Adult Cattle 14,018 19,405 23,117 +65% +19% Total 214,883 213,132 247,194 +15% +16% Source: DAFM For the purpose of the table above, calves are classified as all cattle under six-weeks-of-age; weanlings are all cattle from six-weeks-of-age to six-months-of-age; store cattle are all cattle from six-months-of-age to 24-months-of-age; and adult cattle are all cattle from 24-months-of-age upwards. There are 16 main countries to which Irish cattle have been exported to this year. Spain, The Netherlands and Northern Ireland are the three largest market destinations followed by Italy, Poland, and Croatia. The table below details total Irish cattle export numbers by market destination for the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024 and 2025: Country 2023 2024 2025 2024/25 Spain 50,632 61,612 79,502 +29% The Netherlands 96,905 70,185 75,384 +7% Northern Ireland 20,053 21,188 27,899 +32% Italy 23,393 21,045 24,491 +16% Poland 10,369 10,992 20,296 +85% Croatia – 2,808 2,500 -11% Morocco – 7,322 2,302 -69% Great Britain 1,259 2,705 2,149 -21% Greece 770 1,607 1,989 +24% Algeria – 2,037 1,967 -3% Israel – 3,304 1,855 -44% Romania 1,859 4,691 1,479 -68% Hungary 3,047 2,601 1,117 -57% Portugal 239 – 1,063 – Tunisia 125 407 1,001 +146% Lithuania – – 907 – Other 6,232 628 1,293 +106% Total 214,883 213,132 247,194 +16% Source: DAFM This year has seen a firm trade for cattle with Northern Ireland, with exports of Irish cattle across the border up 31% to just under 28,000 head to date this year. Tighter supplies of cattle for slaughter and further feeding north of the border are some of the key factors understood to be attributing to the stronger export levels here this year. The table below details Irish calf exports by market destination for the first 21 weeks of 2023, 2024, and 2025: Destination 2023 2024 2025 2024/25 The Netherlands 96,624 69,924 74,828 +7% Spain 45,665 55,782 65,701 +18% Poland 10,161 10,867 19,831 +82% Italy 17,760 15,251 15,476 +1% Northern Ireland 4,867 4,472 6,590 +47% Croatia – 2,478 1,970 -21% Romania 1,698 4,655 1,386 -70% Hungary 1,318 2,305 855 -63% Portugal – – 586 – Great Britain 2 1 486 – Lithuania – – 273 – Other 300 101 3 -97% Total 178,395 165,836 187,985 +13% Source: DAFM Market sources have told Agriland there is a growing number of beef-sired calves from the dairy herd being exported in line with calf availability. There is also a growing number of heifer calves being exported with 35,500 exported in the first 18 weeks of this year, up from the 16,300 heifer calves exported in the same time period last year.
Agriland
3 days ago
- Agriland
780 TAMS tranche 5 applications ‘in progress'
780 applications made under tranche 5 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) remain to be processed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). According to the latest data published by the department, 4,687 (80%) out of the 5,823 applications submitted under this tranche have now been approved. A further 285 applications have been rejected by the department, while 71 have been withdrawn. The scheme, which is divided across a range of different measures, provides grants to farmers to build or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their farm. The following table provides the latest update on tranche 5 applications for the 10 schemes contained in TAMS 3: TAMS 3 scheme Applications Rejected Withdrawn In progress Approved Animal Welfare Nutrient Storage Scheme 1,409 63 26 147 1,173 Dairy Equipment Scheme 115 8 1 20 86 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme 2,112 122 17 220 1,753 Low Emission Slurry Spreading 516 2 5 3 506 Organic Capital Investment Scheme 359 13 3 45 298 Pig & Poultry Investment Scheme 32 2 1 8 21 Solar Capital Investment Scheme 513 23 4 236 250 Tillage Capital Investment Scheme 203 11 5 11 176 Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 225 20 1 40 164 Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme 339 21 8 50 260 Total 5,823 285 71 780 4,687 TAMS 3 tranche 5 applications. Source: DAFM The department also confirmed that 156 applications made under tranche 4 are still being processed by the department. 5,254 out of 5,864 applications made under that tranche have been approved. There are 22 applications still outstanding in tranche 3. The department noted that 3,399 of the 3,799 tranche 3 applications have been approved. DAFM is yet to provide an update on the status of applications submitted under tranche 6. Tranche 7 of the scheme opened for applications on March 29 and will close today (Friday, June 6).
