Beef prices in Britain have increased considerably over the last month, jumping by 8p/kg, figures from the AHDB (the organisation for English beef and lamb) show.
According to the AHDB, the increase in beef price has occurred as cattle supplies begin to tighten, creating a short-term supply and demand imbalance.
This makes a change from March of these year when farmers in Britain had some difficulty getting slaughtered as queues were beginning to form at slaughter plants.
However, it reports that these queues have eased, as demand from British beef processors was steady last week.
Due to the increased demand from processors, the R4L steer price increased by 2p/kg to 330.2p/kg last week, while similar type heifers made 330p/kg, 1p/kg more than the week before.
But, the R3 young bulls were unchanged on the week at 317.0p/kg.
British beef price outlook remains unclear
However, the AHDB reports that the outlook for British beef prices remains unclear.
It says that supplies could tighten during the summer, given the degree of earlier finishing so far this year.
On the other hand, improved prices could well bring more cattle into the slaughter cycle earlier, although, in the latest week or two, this hasn’t looked like being the case.
British cow trade remains lively
The AHDB also indicates that the British cow trade has remained firm, despite Sterling showing some signs of strengthening against the euro.
The average British cow price increased by 4p/kg last week, it shows, while O4L cows made 227.7p/kg, up 1p/kg on the week before. The rise in British cows prices has occurred on the back of lively demand from processors
