Deadweight beef back 3p/kg as prime trade flies 

Processors took 2p-5p/kg off base quotes this week while a surge in Christmas demand buoyed liveweight prices at seasonal cattle sales.

Short supply chains and butchers’ shops have escaped some of the pressure felt by larger supermarket suppliers, as shown by the continued strong primeweight cattle price.

See also: Beef prices match record high levels

Overview

Butcher shortages and limited processing capacity are again being blamed for hampering the demand side of the deadweight market. And poor steak sales have led to carcass balancing issues, according to trade reports.

However, beef base prices remain comfortably above the £4/kg mark across the country.

On the liveweight front, trade has strengthened since a slight autumn surge took 10p/kg off the national average in September to bottom at 224p/kg.

Since then, the trade lifted to 236p/kg (up 38p/kg on the year) in late November. This is the highest price of the year so far; the lowest average UK steer price was still above 200p/kg, at 203.97p/kg in January.   

Rugby

Extra Christmas demand for headline-grabbing stock lifted Rugby’s averages on Monday (29 November). 

A good day was had by the Page Brothers, Elkington, Northamptonshire, who took home the supreme champion and reserve honours with a 624kg Limousin-cross heifer at 580p/kg and a 508kg Limousin-cross heifer at 508p/kg.  

The young farmer class went to a 562kg Limousin-cross heifer from Josh Geary, which made 383p/kg. 

Brecon primestock to £2,200

 Eye-catching prices were achieved last week (26 November) at Brecon, which hosted a combined store and primestock sale.

Both the lead grossing steer and heifer hit £2,200. The champion was a 735kg Limousin steer from LA Lewis and C Harris, which was sold to East Butchers, Brecon.

The lead heifer got the reserve ticket, weighing 610kg. She was from JM and SM Rowlands and sold to J Jackson.

Store steers averaged 258p/kg and £1,305, topping at 349.1p/kg and £1,920. Store heifers averaged 260p/kg and £1,222 and topped at 238p/kg and £1,920.

A yarding of 64 suckler cull cows averaged 160p/kg and £1,089 and topped at 238p/kg and £1,780.

Skipton

An entry of 47 prime clean cattle averaged 339.5p/kg at Skipton’s Christmas show and sale on Sunday (28 November), including a top price of 619p/kg and 14 lots at £2,000 or more.

Cattle trade topped with a 525kg British Blue heifer from the Critchleys at £3,252. She sold to butchers K and J Green, Heskin, Chorley. Another Blue heifer, this time at 580kg from JS Stephenson, Bordley, made £2,259 (389.5p/kg). She sold to Kitsons Butchers, Yarm.

Lanark heifer makes £2,586

Wintry conditions could not deter a strong entry of primestock at Lanark’s Christmas show on Monday (29 November).

An entry of 147 cattle included 78 cull cows and topped at 530p/kg, as 14 suckler-bred continental heifers made 252p/kg or more and 12 continental bullocks made 262p/kg or more.

The trade topper was a 488kg Limousin heifer from Messrs Dickinson, Brockwoodlees Farm, Canonbie, which sold to Strachan Butchers, Larkhall, for 530p/kg. The Dickinsons also sold heifers to £1,814 and £1,704.

In reserve was a 608kg Limousin bullock from Messrs Simpson, Hillridge Farm, Biggar, that made 310p/kg (£1,885). He sold to Allan Butchers, Stewarton.

Thainstone

Several lots passed the £3,000 mark in Thainstone’s prime ring on Tuesday (30 November).

The leading price of £6,200 was for a Limousin-cross heifer by Elite Lacette from Andrew Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Plewlands Duff, Elgin. The 625kg animal sold to Forsyth Butchers, Glenrothes.

The reserve champion hit £3,200 and came from Harry Brown, Auchmaliddie Mains, Maud. This was a 594kg Limousin-cross heifer bred by Ian Sclater, Upper Breckan.

She was shared between Jamie Scott, John Scott Meats, Paisley, and Louise Forsyth, WTS Forsyth Butchers, Peebles.

Carlisle

An entry of 70 prime steers and heifers topped at 355p/kg at Carlisle on Monday (29 November) and an entry of 87 prime bulls included six that grossed more than £2,000.

The lead bull was a Limousin from the Priestleys at Cracrop Farm, Brampton, which sold to Bowland Foods, Preston.

Heifers topped at £2,524 (355p/kg) for a Limousin-cross heifer from Messrs Grainger, Kiln Close, Wigton, which was bought by regular buyers R and JP Mulholland, Great Orton, Carlisle.

Steers topped at £2,147 a head for an offering from Messrs Lawson, Hundith House, Wigton, which was bought by Pioneer Foods. A British Blue cross from Messrs Dent, Elm House, made £1,946.

A Belted Galloway steer from Messrs Ewing, Dumbretton, Annan, made £1,938 and took home the traditional class championship.