price,
beef,
beef buyers
Beef price ball back in the farmers' court
After battling to hold base quotes over recent weeks, beef buyers have finally relented and are now offering stronger quotes.
Where negotiations were starting at 405c/kg for steers last week, quotes have increased upward by 5c/kg and most plants are now on a base price of 410c/kg; some steer deals are being struck at a base of 415c/kg (excluding Quality Assurance Scheme bonuses).
Like the steer trade, heifer quotes have also climbed by an additional 5—10c/kg — depending on location and factory demand — to reach 420c/kg.
With numbers anticipated to tighten over the coming weeks, the beef price ball now appears to be firmly back in the farmers' court. Where possible, farmers should look for concessions on transport charges, age limits and carcass weights.
During the week ending April 29, in-spec, R+3= heifers made a top price of 448.06c/kg, while the average price paid stood at 437.09c/kg.
Furthermore, a top price of 440.05c/kg was achieved for R+3= steers; the average price paid for these animals stood at 424.55c/kg.
Cows
There is quite a variation in the prices being quoted to farmers for cows and this depends on the quality and grades being presented. The location and demand of individual processing plants also has to be factored into the equation.
Buyers are offering 330—340c/kg to purchase P—grade animals. In addition, procurement managers are starting negotiations with farmers for O—grade and R—grade cows at 350c/kg and 360c/kg respectively.
During the week ending April 29, O=3= cows made a top price of 369.95c/kg, while the average price paid stood at 357.62c/kg.
Cattle Throughput
For the second consecutive week, cattle supplies have decreased by over 1,200 head. During the week ending April 29, 32,129 head of cattle were slaughtered, figures from the Department of Agriculture show.
Looking at the beef kill in more detail, some 3,245 young bulls were slaughtered in Department of Agriculture approved beef plants during the week ending April 29 — an increase of 221 head or 7.0% on the week before.
Heifer and cow throughput has declined on a week—to—week basis, with supplies down by 407 head and 415 head respectively. In addition, the number of steers processed fell by 807 head on the previous week’s kill.
However, aged bull supplies increased during the week ending April 29, with throughput up by 163 head or 26%.