June 13, 2013

 

 

Northern Ireland's beef production fell by an average of 16.5 kilogrammes in May despite cattle slaughter figures being almost 2,500 higher than May 2012.

 

This is according to market analysts at the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) Northern Ireland.

 

Prime cattle slaughterings in Northern Ireland (NI) during May 2013 totalled 35,246 head compared to 32,796 head during May 2012. This increase by 2,450 head accounts for an increase of 7% in prime cattle throughput when comparing the two months, write LMC experts.

 

While the NI steer kill was back by 5% from 15,624 head in May 2012 to 14,826 head in May 2013 the heifer kill increased by 19% from 10,852 head to 12,952 head. This notable increase in the heifer kill will lead to a reduction in the number of heifers being retained for breeding which could have longer term consequences for the beef industry.

 

Between the same periods the young bull/calf kill increased by 18% to 7,468 head. For 2013 to date the prime kill in NI was 148,685 head, a 4% increase on the 143,071 head processed in the same period in 2012.

 

This increased throughput however has not translated into higher levels of beef production from the prime kill due to a notable drop in average carcase weights. The average prime carcase weight in May 2013 was 325.5 kilogrammes compared to 342 kilogrammes in May 2012, a reduction of 16.5 kilogrammes.

 

This decline in carcase weights can be attributed to the difficult production conditions and feed shortages faced by producers over the last year which had a negative effect on animal performance. Despite this notable drop in carcase weights total beef production from the prime kill for the first five months of 2013 was almost unchanged from the same period in 2012 at 48,699 tonnes. The cow kill in May 2013 totalled 8,366 head, a 5% increase on the 7,958 head slaughtered in May 2012.

 

Cow slaughterings for the year to date have totalled 36,523 head, an 11% increase on the 32,890 cows slaughtered during the same period in 2012. This increase in cow slaughterings has resulted in a 9% increase in the amount of cow beef processed to 10,761 tonnes during 2013 to date. Average cow carcase weights in 2013 to date have been back on the same period in 2012 but have not shown the same level of decline as the prime cattle carcase weights.

 

In the period January to May 2013 the average cow carcase weight was 295.1 kilogrammes compared to 298.2 kilogrammes during the same period in 2012. With the increased throughput of cows by the plants and with a 34% increase in the number of cows entering into fallen stock in 2013 to date there has been a drop in the number of cows on the ground.

 

The latest statistics from Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) for May 2013 have indicated a 2% decline in the number of beef sired female cattle over 30 months of age on the ground compared to the same time last year. The same report indicates a 4% decline in dairy females over 30 months of age.

 

Meanwhile the number of beef cattle and dairy sired males on the ground aged 12 to 30 months has remained steady at 456,000 head. Overall there has been a 6% increase in the number of cattle processed by the NI plants during 2013 to date compared to the same period during 2012. This has helped to increase total beef production for the year to date by 2% on the same period last year.