Despite the unseasonal, severe shortage of grass and the continuing fall in prime cattle prices, demand for store cattle, especially younger cattle, remains as strong as ever with most centres noticing little if any change in values from this time last year.

Over the past four months, the deadweight cattle trade in Scotland has slipped at least 14p per kg from around 296p, which on a 400kg beast amounts to a loss of £56 per head. However, while the fat trade continues to fall albeit on a gradual scale – the base price in the North-east, last Monday, fell a further 2p on the week, to 280p per dwkg – there appears no let up on the prices farmers are prepared to pay for tomorrow’s prime cattle.

“Our store cattle trade is very much on a par with last year,” said John Angus, Aberdeen and Northern Mart’s cattle auctioneer at Thainstone.

“Overall, trade has been very steady especially for the younger cattle, although the older, stronger cattle have been affected,” he said adding that he expects the demand for stores to continue despite one of the latest springs and the distinct lack of grass.

Store cattle prices in the Central Belt are also fairly similar to last year’s levels and according to John Roberts of United Auctions, Stirling, prices vary more for the quality, type and age of cattle presented.

“Younger cattle are always dearer,” said Mr Roberts. “We’ve got younger cattle making 192p per kg whereas older, heavier cattle will sell for anything from 165-175p per kg. You’ve also got to remember that while suckler cow numbers are down, we’re seeing a lot more dairy-bred cattle coming through and farmers looking to turn their cheap barley into some sort of a profit. We’re also seeing more people buying cast cows out of the ring to take home and fatten.”

But while Scottish store numbers appear similar to previous years, there is a distinct shortage south of the border and are the main reason why store prices have increased for the sixth consecutive year in England and Wales.

According this week’s UK market survey from the Agriculture and Horticultural Development Board, demand for cattle of all types has been buoyant across the Border since the turn of the year with 18-month-old Continental cross steers increasing by 6% on the year to average £792 per head while two-year-old Continental steers were up 3% at £856 per head. Black and white 18-month-old steers were unchanged at £611.

The shortage of store cattle was also evident amongst heifers with 18-month-old Hereford crosses cashing in at £513 per head in the first quarter of 2010, 4% higher on year earlier levels. Continental cross heifers of the same age increased by 8% in value to average £706 and two-year-old similarly bred heifers rose by 4% on the year to £745 per head.

But, as the store trade increases, GB deadweight and live prime cattle prices continue to fall on a gradual, but regular basis. For the week ending April 24, the overall steer price was 271p per kg – down 2p on the previous four weeks – with R4L carcases averaging 276p per kg.

The young bull average eased on the week to 250p, with heifers at 269.7p being a similar trade to the previous seven days. Fortunately however, trade in Scotland remains a good 10p per dwkg higher with steers cashing in at 281.2p and heifers at 280.3p, for the same week.

Following the deadweight trade, GB prime cattle prices sold through the live ring for the week ending April 28, saw heifers fall by 2p to 147.24p per kg while steers dropped by 4p to 141.69p. Scottish prices saw steer averages fall 1.91p to 158.58p while heifers fell a massive 6.42p to level out at 157.63p.