Cattle
Prime cattle prices have remained the same for the past week at 625 to 635ppk with AA and AAX commanding a 10 to 20 ppk premium over base. Current demand for the gun-bit cuts is extremely low due to high retail prices and the uncertainty of the pricing and costs going forward as a result of the ongoing situation in the middle east. There is also imported beef from New Zealand and Australia starting to appear in some stores which is selling for as much as £10 / kg less than home produced product.
Cows
Cow prices are slowly creeping up at 560ppk for dairy cows and up to 580ppk for good beef cows. Cows are likely to remain a good trade as demand for processing beef remains high. Good beef cow supply is getting tighter while more dairy cows are coming available probably due to the change in milk prices.
Stores
Store cattle are still achieving very good prices despite the prime cattle price having dropped back by around 30ppk since the start of the year. All classes of store cattle are in demand from calves on the milk to heavy stores.
If you are looking for cattle or have some to sell, please get in touch with your Fields person.
Sheep:
Hogg trade has reached an all-time high this past week with prices as high as 870 ppk deadweight for the correct spec and weights. As we have now past the peak demand period for lamb and more New Zealand and Australian product is appearing, the price is likely to drop back considerably over the coming weeks.
We still have a strong demand for deadweight ewes, with a number of different outlets. Please speak to your fields person if you have any to market.
We are starting to get some ewes with lambs at foot to market and trade is remaining strong. We’ve also got people looking to buy later lambing ewes in end of April and May.
Organics
Hoggs
Good standard weight organic hoggs are remaining a strong trade with prices having been as high as 900 ppk, depending on location and spec. Demand remains firm for organic hoggs.
Cattle
Organic cattle have also remained a good trade at 735 to 765ppk for the past week. Please contact your fields person to discuss the options available for prime organic cattle if you have some to market.
