Grazing cattle back on year with fert at £700/t
© Richard Stanton Dizzying input costs are reining in grazing cattle prices across the country as farmers think twice and wait for settled spring weather before stocking up.
Beef prices are 40-45p/kg up on the year, but fertiliser costs of £600-£1,000/t and diesel over £1/litre are blamed for limiting interest for long-term, dairy-bred stores.
AHDB’s continental-cross store average shows yearling steers and heifers are back 10% on a month ago and 18-month-olds are back 6-8%.
In contrast, older yarding cattle remain very dear, supported by processors competing hard and some outlets offering base prices above 440p/kg.
See also: Johnson accused of failing to grasp fertiliser crisis impact
Stirling UA
Younger cattle have failed to attract any price per kilo premium over older cattle in recent weeks, said John Roberts, United Auctions group director and auctioneer.
“This is one of the very few times this has happened in my auctioneering career,” said Mr Roberts. “Big cattle for finishing have been exceptionally dear but smaller cattle are the same money per kilo, and some slightly cheaper on last spring.
“Typically, there is a 10-20p/kg premium for the cattle under 400kg compared with those at 500kg or more. But the finishing cattle are making about 250p/kg, and as the weight goes down, the price doesn’t move.”
He pointed to rising input costs and market uncertainty limiting confidence in grazing cattle, particularly those at 250-330kg.
Yarding cattle would become tighter further into April and May, he predicted, adding that further beef price rises would be needed.
“Everything is so uncertain. Fertiliser prices have gone up hundreds of pounds a ton in just a few days. I think that beef prices should lift to reflect rising costs, especially if we are to retain the British suckler cow herd.”
Exeter
In Devon, Simon Alford, director and cattle auctioneer at Kivells, has also seen yarding cattle make stronger prices than a year ago.
Younger, shapely, continental suckler-bred cattle have remained largely unchanged. Outwintered, dairy-bred sorts are back on the year, he said.
Mr Alford said the old saying “an inch of hair is worth a hundredweight of flesh” was not quite being reflected in prices, as grassland costs were hitting unprecedented levels.
“I think this will be a year for vendors to feed stores, even though grub is expensive, and get them looking ready for market to give buyers confidence.”
Mr Alford said most forward stores had made £1,200-£1,400 in recent weeks, with finishers gambling on a rise in beef prices.
Edges disperse Holsteins to 3,400gns
A total of 41 cattle made 2,500gns at the dispersal of Roland and Sandra Edge’s unregistered herd of Holsteins at Parkfield House, Calveley, Cheshire, last week (31 March).
A four-calved Sahara Jacob daughter (pictured below) topped trade at 3,400gns. She sold to Richard Gay’s Walkabout herd, Axminster. She was giving 44kg and is due in September.
Averages: 228 milking females, £2,079; 52 calves at foot, £402; 10 heifers six months or more in-calf, £2,176; 25 served heifers, £1,388; 42 maiden heifers, £881; 357 head, £1,648 (Norton and Brooksbank)
© Norton and Brooksband
Best bulls close to 300p/kg at Carlisle
Trade peaked at 299.5p/kg for a Limousin prime bull at Carlisle on Monday (5 April). Prime bulls are in demand at Carlisle, and more are wanted at weekly sales, say auctioneers.
Trade was dearer on the week despite a slightly larger yarding of 65-head, of which nine grossed £2,000 or more. Trade topped at £2,734, which is a new Borderway record.
Leading prices were 299.5p/kg and three made 297.5p/kg – all made by Limousins. British Friesians topped at 219.5p/kg. (H&H)
Yearling stores dear at Knighton
One of the dearest trades this year was seen at Knighton on Friday (1 April) for entries of mainly yearling store cattle. Steers topped at 311p/kg (£1,090 a head) for a 350kg 11-month-old Limousin steer from AG and JH Davies.
Other Limousin steers sold to 307p/kg. A 21-month-old Limousin-cross made £1,545 at 590kg and a Charolais-cross steer made £1,480 at the same weight.
Heifers topped at 309p/kg. Six 11-month-old 340kg Limousin heifers sold to 282p/kg and £960 a head.
Averages: 101 cattle: steers, steers 272.56p/kg; heifers 255.71p/kg (McCartneys)
© McCartneys
Wooler store sale hits £1,400-mark twice
A fortnightly entry of 225 store and grazing cattle topped at £1,440 at Wooler on Tuesday (5 April). The trade topper was a British Blue steer from D Whiteford, Borewell.
The championship went to a Limousin-cross steer from TM Thompson, Howick Seahouses, Alnwick (pictured below).
Best Limousin steers made 306.1p/kg, 277p/kg, 276p/kg, 271p/kg and 263p/kg.
Leading Limousin heifers made 313p/kg, 286p/kg, 277p/kg, 275p/kg, 274p/kg and 270p/kg.
Angus heifers topped at 244p/kg, 243p/kg and 236p/kg. (H&H)
© Harrison and Hetherington
Trade Talk – Alastair J Brown, Senior Auctioneer, Bletsoes
Spring was seen in late March, and now we are having a little warm rain to hopefully make the grass grow.
Prices this year have been seen at levels we have not witnessed before, especially in cattle rings throughout the country.
Store cattle are at least £50 and probably nearer £100 a head dearer than last year’s prices. This is all driven by the finished product with a high demand for beef cattle.
Also seeing a high demand are the older cows with prices over 200p/kg, but this is now eating into our breeding herds and will consequently reduce cattle numbers.
During current high demand there is no better place to market your stock than the live ring. Market your stock appropriately.
Out-of-spec cattle and better-quality heavier types are exceeding the prices gained when selling deadweight – where the total price you have been promised is reduced by limiting weights and in other ways.
It’s a little different on the sheep side with hoggs remaining at lower levels a head than the previous year.
Last year’s prices saw many auctions boasting hoggs well in excess of £150. This year prices are achieving roughly £25 less a head.
Easter will soon be here, and it is good to see adverts on the television promoting lamb, but will it be too late this year?
Many producers this season have pushed their lambing later in the year. Prices may follow the hogg trade and be seen at similar levels to older lamb.
Cull sheep are at very high levels, with several ethnic festivals being held. This has supported the older sheep section. Prices have included Texel ewes over £200 and £150 regularly made by Mules.