UK: Weekly cattle & sheep market wrap (12 December 2024)

Published Dec 12, 2024

Tridge summary

GB cattle prices increased across all categories for the week ending 07 December, with steers and heifers at R4L specification fetching 555p/kg and 553p/kg respectively, and young bulls at 523p/kg. The estimated GB prime cattle slaughter rose by 1,300 head to 34,400, largely due to a 900 head increase in heifer kill. The overall cow price also increased to 366p/kg. Deadweight lamb prices have risen for the fifth consecutive week, with the GB new season SQQ averaging 691p/kg. AHDB estimated kill increased by 41,000 head to 254,000, but the year-to-date figures remain significantly down, totaling 9.6 million, a decrease of 8.5% from the same period in 2023.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Prices for week ending 07 December GB cattle prices grew across the board again this week, despite increasing throughputs. The average price for steers at R4L specification was 555p/kg, up 4.9p/kg on the week previous. The R4L heifer price also grew, to 553p/kg, lifting by 5.9p/kg week on week. Smaller growth was seen in the overall young bull price, up 1.9p/kg on the week to sit at 523p/kg. Estimated GB prime cattle slaughter grew to sit at 34,400 head for the week ending 7 December, up 1,300 head on the week before. This growth was mainly driven by increased heifer kill, up 900 head on the previous week. An uplift was also seen in the overall cow price, despite increased throughputs. The overall cow price averaged 366p/kg for the week, up 3.9p/kg week-on-week. Estimated slaughter of cows sat at 12,000 head, an increase of 400 head on the week. Market reports continue to suggest firm trade, with good demand for cattle despite slightly increased supplies coming forward this week. ...

Source: Ahdb