Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e April 28th 2024
Irish Cattle Trade & Prices – April 2024 Market Update
This week’s figures show continued strength in Irish cattle trade & prices April 2024, supported by rising throughput and firm product prices.
Processor quotes improved for steers to €5.15–€5.20/kg, while heifers fetched €5.20–€5.25/kg. Young bulls remained steady at €5.30–€5.40/kg for R grading animals under 24 months. Cow trade also held up well — O grading cows at €4.60/kg, with R grading top-quality cows fetching €4.70–€4.80/kg.**
Throughput is slightly higher than last year**, with 33,164 cattle processed during the week ending April 28, 2024, bringing year-to-date throughput to 596,422 head—a 2.8% increase over the same period in 2023. Prime cattle numbers remain strong, tallying 423,905 head, up 2.7% YoY. Cow throughput rose significantly by 12.5%, totaling 146,167 head.
European & UK Live Trade Prices
On R3 carcass pricing, Ireland’s average was €5.21/kg, slightly behind the previous year’s €5.27/kg. Across Europe, R3 young bulls held steady at €5.02/kg, while Great Britain showed modest gains with R3 steer prices rising to €5.70/kg (approx. £4.89/kg).
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