Increased supplies have slowed the increase of deadweight cattle prices this week, with most of the abattoirs standing on the previous seven day’s base values.

Figures for the week ending June 20, reveal deadweight values again improved on the week but by a more modest 2.1p per kg, with the GB all-prime average standing at 360.5p.

This compares prices in Scotland which showed all steers levelled at 377.8p, up 0.8p on the week with an extra 6% forward; all heifers at 379.5p, (+1.1p for 4.1% more); young bulls at 370.4p (-1.5p for 0.8% more) and cull cows at 283.0p (+0.4p for 4.2% fewer).

Those hitting the spec are nevertheless slightly better with several abattoirs offering the same price for steers, heifers and young bulls. Scottish averages for R4L steers, heifers and young bulls were 383.0p, 382.9p and 371.5p respectively.

According to AHDB, finishers have been selling more prime cattle to take the pressure off available grazing and as a result of the higher prices offered which over the past two months have risen more than 50p per deadweight kg.

Slaughter numbers through British abattoirs for the week ending June 20, were estimated at 35,250 head, 500 more than the previous week, and 2600 head more than the same week in 2019.

Furthermore, market reports suggest processors are well booked for next week and therefore price rises could slow further in the short term.

Estimated cow slaughterings stood at 11,800 head for the week, down around 600 head on a week earlier.

n Meanwhile, The Scottish Farmer’s Retail Radar, for the week commencing June 15 again revealed that Aldi led the way with 91% of beef products being Scotch with the percentage of Scotch lamb also strong at 86%. All other products in the category were British.

Lidl also scored highly with a core range of Scotch beef and lamb with seasonal British products bolstering the range. Scotch product make up 85% of the beef section and 100% of the lamb range.

Again Asda was the one which disappointed most with just 10% of their beef range being Scotch and there was no Scotch lamb on shelf. Some 25% of their beef range was imported from Ireland and 66% of the lamb was imported from New Zealand.

Tesco increased it’s number of Scotch lines again to 32%, but it still has some way to go to get back to the previous levels of 80%. Irish imported beef accounts for 25% of the product range. Again it was disappointing to see no Scotch lamb on shelf while 41% of the range comprised New Zealand imports.

Summary

% of Scotch % of Non Scotch

Beef Nov-19 58% 42%

W/C 15/6/20 48% 52% 9% Irish

Lamb Nov-19 57% 43%

W/C 15/6/20 37% 63% 24% NZ

 

Percentage of range that is Scotch

Beef Lamb

Nov 19 W/C 15/6/20 Nov 19 W/C 15/6/20

Aldi 100% 91% 100% 86%

Asda 15% 10% 19% 0%

Lidl 100% 85% 100% 100%

Morrisons 70% 59% 75% 59%

Sainsburys 15% 16% 57% 43%

Tesco 78% 32% 67% 0%