Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) estimates for cull cow slaughterings have increased significantly since the end of June, having already run higher than last year. The numbers are for both beef and dairy breeds.
At the start of the year, prices were exceptionally strong with demand for manufacturing beef underpinning the market. This encouraged numbers forward.
In June, the GB deadweight overall cow price reached an average of 265p/kg, the highest since July 2013.
Since the start of July, the dry weather led to an increase in supplies of cattle for slaughter, but with no corresponding increase in demand.
As a result, prices have fallen rapidly, and there have been reports of significant waiting times for booking cattle into abattoirs.
By August 4, the GB deadweight overall cow price stood at 224p/kg – a decline of 40p compared to five weeks earlier.
An AHDB spokesman said: “Slaughterings for the week ended August 4, declined significantly from the previous few weeks but continued to trend above year-earlier levels.
“The lower prices, however, meant slaughter was no longer as viable an option as previously.
Every week, AHDB Beef and Lamb publishes estimated figures for slaughterings in GB along with prices for cows and prime cattle as Defra does not publish a breakdown of cow slaughterings by beef and dairy type.
“However, if we assume the same split as seen in auction markets, of the 8% (3,000 head) and 18% (8,800 head) extra animals slaughtered in June and July respectively, compared with last year, around 5,000 could have come from dairy-sired cows,” the spokesperson added.
The estimates are then revised when Defra publish monthly slaughtering data but remain estimated as the official data is monthly rather than weekly.
