Cows £200 dearer despite 13% hike in supply

Retail demand for manufacturing beef is helping keep suckler cow trade 34p/kg up on the year, while farms offload 13% more cows to date than the same period last year.

Live markets have sold 60,593 suckler cows to the week ending 12 November. That week trade levelled at 161p/kg, compared with 126p/kg a year ago.

Deadweight throughputs are also sharply higher. The six-week period to 5 November was up 11% year-on-year.

See also: Opinion: Support needed to halt the decline in suckler cow numbers

Suckler herd dispersal and contraction is a hot topic in the industry, as farmers cut numbers to limit input costs and some face tight forage supplies. 

Higher suckler cow throughputs are particularly notable given the English suckler breeding herd started the year 14,500-head down on 2021 following a 2.1% drop to 650,836.

Robert Venner of Greenslade Taylor Hunt said a strong manufacturing beef market had brought more cows on to the market at Sedgemoor.

Kantar consumer spend data suggests a shift towards mince, burgers, grills and stewing steak.

Sedgemoor’s trade had been at record levels, including a new cull bull record set by a large Angus bull at £1,918 (157p/kg).

Good suckler cows had made around the 200p/kg-mark, and some businesses were getting into growing cattle instead.

Mr Venner said the suckler industry in the South West was going through a period of contraction, which he thought was mainly due to wintering costs.

“People are looking at a seven-month housed period for their cows in wet areas.

“In contrast, a young calf might be a good alternative. They are making £300 and the prime price is £1,850 or thereabouts.

“About 20 years ago, these calves made £300 and the prime beast was £850 a head. A bag of milk powder is £10 dearer, but the calves are £100 cheaper compared with a year ago.”

Prime not high enough

Jack Pickup, cattle auctioneer at Gisburn, acknowledged costs were mounting, meaning empty cows were having no second chances.

But he stressed there was not an exodus from the suckler industry, and many producers were investing in breeding stock. 

“Plenty of people last week came to Gisburn to drop off some cull cows and shot off up to Kirkby Stephen to the in-calf sale,” he said. A good in-calf heifer was £2,500 – equivalent to one-and-a-half empty cows.

He said the prime price was not as strong as the cull cow market. “An Angus heifer or a Blue out of a dairy cow in the prime ring might make 210-220p/kg, but a good 10-year-old cow is the same money.”