Steady Pig Prices and Increased Throughput in Ireland

Prices

Deadweight pig prices in Ireland have remained steady for several weeks, following a slight drop at the start of 2025. For the week ending 23rd February 2025, the average price paid for grade E pigs was €1.99/kg excluding VAT. This is 5c/kg higher than the corresponding week in 2024, when the price was €1.94/kg.

Throughput

Total throughput year-to-date (YTD) is 514,368, which is 3% ahead of the corresponding period in 2024. In week eight, 67,942 pigs were processed, including 2,243 sows.

According to the latest Performance and Prospects Report, overall pig supplies, including exports, increased by 2% (+70k head) to 3.65 million pigs during 2024. Irish pigmeat production rose by an estimated 4% in 2024, reaching approximately 310,000 tonnes.

This increase was driven by both higher pig supplies and slightly increased average carcase weights. The rate of recovery gained momentum as the year progressed, following a 10% decline in 2023 due to higher feed costs and depressed market prices.

Bord Bia

Steady Sheep Prices Amid Tight Supplies and Rising Demand

Quotes

The deadweight sheep trade remains steady this week, with base quotes for hoggets from major processors around €8.80/kg (+QA bonus). Reports indicate higher prices have been negotiated for hoggets meeting current market specifications, with some opening prices reaching €9.00/kg. Some processors have reduced the carcass weight limit by 1kg to 23kg. The recovery in base quotes coincides with the run-up to Ramadan, where demand for product tends to increase in key export markets.

The improvement in the deadweight trade is also reflected in the liveweight trade across marts, with firm competition around the sale rings for suitable lots.

Supplies

The current firm demand for hoggets is underpinned by very tight supplies of sheep for processing, a trend replicated across the UK and EU markets. A contraction in breeding flocks, challenging weather conditions last spring, and various disease outbreaks have all contributed to the tight supply situation.

The total sheep kill in DAFM-approved plants last week was 44,091 head, up marginally from the previous week, bringing the year-to-date total to 302,541 head. This is 23% lower than the corresponding eight-week period in 2024.

Prices

The reported deadweight price for the week ending 23rd February increased to €8.87/kg, following an upward trend over the past three weeks after significant declines in early 2025.

The deadweight trade has also improved across UK regions. Reported lamb prices in mainland GB were the equivalent of €8.78/kg last week (+1c/kg), with firming demand for hoggets in the lead-up to Ramadan. In Northern Ireland, the reported deadweight price was €8.40/kg, up 12c/kg from the previous week.

Southern Hemisphere prices remain well below European prices but have been relatively stable over the last few weeks. Prices this week were the equivalent of €4.72/kg and €4.46/kg for Australia and New Zealand, respectively, both showing slight increases.

Bord Bia

 

Strong Performance in Cattle and Beef Markets Amid Tight Supplies

Cattle & Beef

With cattle availability for processing remaining tight across much of Europe and the UK, the deadweight cattle trade has continued to perform strongly. The limited beef availability, combined with stable demand in key export markets, has contributed to recent price increases.

Quotes

Quotes from major processors for prime cattle have continued to trend upward, favouring producers. Base quotes for steers are in the region of €6.55-6.65/kg, while quotes for heifers are around €7.35/kg. Reports indicate higher prices have been negotiated with producer groups and factories offering increased bonuses. R grading young bulls under 24 months of age are steady, generally working off a base of €6.60-6.70/kg.

The cow trade remains very strong, with a further jump this week due to strong demand for well-fleshed cows. R grading cows are quoted at €6.40/kg, while quotes for O grading cows range from €6.10-€6.15/kg, depending on quality and carcase weight. Factories are quoting well-covered P grading cows starting at €5.80/kg, with room for negotiation.

Reported Prices

For the week ending 23rd February 2025, the Irish R3 steer price increased by 18c/kg to €6.48/kg, while the R3 heifer price increased by 16c/kg to €6.48/kg. Irish prices continue to trend higher than the EU average, although recent weeks have seen similar increases across the trading bloc as cattle supplies tighten. The average R3 young bull price in the EU last week was €6.16/kg, up 3c/kg from the previous week.

In the UK, tighter cattle supplies and firm demand have led to continued firming of deadweight beef prices. This week, the average UK R3 steer price increased by 15c/kg to €7.61/kg.

Note that reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonus payments such as in-spec bonuses and breed-based producer groups.

Throughput

There were 38,944 cattle processed in DAFM-approved plants last week, a decrease of just over 500 head from the same week in 2024. Total cattle throughput for the first eight weeks of the year is on par with 2024 levels at 284,351 head. However, cattle availability for slaughter is expected to contract in the weeks ahead. A strong live export trade and the processing of cattle at younger ages and lighter carcase weights in Q4 2024 have contributed to a contraction in cattle numbers of slaughter age currently on farms.

Average carcase weights have continued to trend below previous years, with this downward trend expected to continue in the short to medium term. Calf registrations to suckler cows are declining, while the number of beef-sired calves produced from the dairy herd continues to increase.

Live Exports

Tighter cattle supplies across Europe and movement restrictions in some key cattle trading markets due to the spread of bluetongue are key factors behind the continued firm demand for Irish cattle in key export markets in early 2025.

The number of weanling and store cattle traded during the early weeks of 2025 is trending higher than previous years, with firm demand from Northern Ireland, Spain, Eastern Europe, and North Africa contributing to the uplift in export levels. The strong reputation of Irish cattle with key trading partners has contributed to this steady demand.

The outlook for the 2025 calf trading season is positive, with early indications of firm demand from key customers and markets. Numbers being traded are expected to pick up strongly in the next few weeks in line with the peak calving of the dairy herd.

Bord Bia

China’s customs authorities have suspended beef imports from seven meatpacking facilities across Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mongolia as of 3rd March 2025.

The affected companies include two Argentine exporters (Frigorífico Regional General Las Heras SA and Frio Dock SA), three Brazilian slaughterhouses (Frisa Frigorífico Rio Doce S/A, Bon-Mart Frigorífico Ltda, and JBS S/A), one Uruguayan facility (Frigorífico Sirsil SA), and a Mongolian supplier.

No official reason was provided, but the move follows a record 2.87 million metric tonnes of beef imports in 2024, which led to an oversupplied market and historically low domestic beef prices in China.

The suspensions come amid an ongoing investigation by China’s Ministry of Commerce into the surge of beef imports and their impact on local producers.

In Brazil, the suspensions are linked to non-compliance with Chinese registration requirements, and the affected companies are working on corrective measures. The Brazilian Association of Meat Exporters (Abiec) stated that the companies involved have been notified and are adopting corrective measures to meet Chinese health authority requirements.

Argentina’s Frigorífico Regional General Las Heras SA faced issues after failing to deliver 70 containers in November 2024 due to exchange rate problems and operational constraints. The company has been working to resolve these issues and fulfil contracts.

China, the world’s largest beef importer, relies heavily on Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay as key suppliers. The import surge has raised concerns about potential trade restrictions, with results from the investigation expected by the end of 2025.

This could affect major exporters, including Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and the United States, especially as China has already announced a 10% tariff on US beef starting 10th March 2025. The situation reflects Beijing’s efforts to stabilise its domestic market amid claims that excessive imports are harming Chinese cattle farmers.

Original story: MercoPress

Plans to reopen and expand an abattoir in Bradpole, Dorset, have been approved despite some residents’ concerns over traffic, light, and noise pollution.

The facility at Mangerton Lane, which had been shut for a year, has been acquired by Shropshire-based Pickstock Telford Ltd. The former farm site was first converted to abattoir use in the early 1990s.

One local farmer told councillors that the area needed the facility to be reopened, as it would be better for animal welfare by avoiding the need to transport animals long distances. Dorset Council’s area planning committee voted almost unanimously in favour of the plans, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Simon Christopher supported the animal welfare argument and welcomed the additional jobs that reopening and expanding the business would bring. The committee heard that the new operators would be increasing the size of buildings on the site, enhancing security, and making changes to the car park.

Additionally, a 3m (9.8ft) timber acoustic fence would be installed, and landscaping would be added to the northern and eastern boundaries, creating a biodiversity net gain.

Original story: BBC News

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 26 (Reuters) – The Argentine government has authorised the export of live cattle for slaughter, reversing a prohibition that had been in place for over five decades.

This decision follows a year in which the country’s beef exports reached their highest level in a century.

Argentina, renowned for its beef cuts and traditional asado barbecue, is a major ranching and farming powerhouse. It is also a significant exporter of processed soybeans, corn, and wheat. Sales from the agricultural sector to foreign markets provide the largest source of hard currency for the central bank, which is essential for financing imports and paying down debts.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agriculture secretariat said the policy reversal on cattle exports was aimed at fostering “greater competition within the meat and livestock chain.” This move aligns with libertarian President Javier Milei’s efforts to deregulate South America’s second-biggest economy and stimulate growth.

Earlier this month, Milei’s government introduced a five-month tax cut for exports of grains and their derivatives to encourage sales abroad. Additionally, late last year, Milei supported a reduction in local duties on beef exports, lowering the rate to 6.75% from the previous 9%.

Original story: Reuters

COPENHAGEN, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Meat producer Danish Crown announced on Thursday that it has closed its factory in Pinghu, eastern China, following a strategic review. The company stated that the plant did not align with its overall strategy.

Danish Crown, one of the world’s largest pork exporters, has undergone significant restructuring in recent years. This includes the closure of one of its major slaughterhouses in Denmark and the announcement last October of plans to cut around 500 white-collar jobs.

The farmer-owned company opened the Pinghu factory near Shanghai in 2019 as part of its expansion efforts in China. However, the facility never achieved the expected earnings despite substantial efforts to address initial challenges.

In a statement, Danish Crown said, “It has however never succeeded in generating the expected earnings, even though significant efforts were made during the period to rectify a poor start.”

As a result, Danish Crown has closed the plant, laid off 112 employees, and signed a letter of intent to sell the facility.

Original story: Reuters

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is leveraging a range of artificial intelligence technologies to enhance its operations, including frontline inspections.

According to Andrew Gwynne, who previously served as a minister in the Department of Health and Social Care but has since been removed and suspended from the Labour party over offensive WhatsApp messages, the FSA is utilising both traditional and generative AI for various purposes.

This includes trials of generative AI technologies for use by inspectors examining companies that provide or prepare food. Gwynne explained, “For generative AI, we are piloting its use in our front-line services in the field by using mobile-based AI applications. The goal is to streamline our inspection of meat businesses by having AI help collate notes during the inspection process, which will allow uniformity in reporting and improve data quality.

We aim for this to improve the existing method, which involves inspectors carrying large amounts of equipment while taking written, paper-based observations.”

Additionally, generative systems are being used in the internal operations of the food regulator. Gwynne added, “We have also deployed generative AI tools to improve data quality. As most data from national and international food alert systems is unstructured text, considerable human effort has been required to extract the relevant information and then categorise it to a standardised format.

The aim is to reduce the manual work required in improving data quality, which will allow colleagues to spend more time deriving insights from data rather than cleaning data, while also improving the speediness of the response.”

Original story: publictechnology.net

Bolivian meat producers are facing daily losses of approximately USD 500,000 following the government’s ban on beef exports.

The National Chamber of Exporters of Bolivia (Caneb) has raised concerns, highlighting the significant impact on cattle farmers, particularly in the eastern regions. The ban, announced by Productive Development Minister Néstor Huanca, aims to regulate supply and reduce domestic meat prices.

In 2024, meat exports generated USD 185 million, up from USD 136 million in 2023, despite various challenges. Caneb Manager Marcelo Olguín warned that the economy risks losing over USD 200 million, urging the government to engage in dialogue to avoid damaging Bolivia’s market reputation.

Economy Minister Marcelo Montenegro stated that exports could resume once local prices stabilise. Vice-Minister of Agricultural Development Álvaro Mollinedo emphasised the need to prioritise food safety, citing rising meat prices and reduced supply. The government has pointed to private producers as contributing to the price increases and shortages.

Original story: MercoPress