Livestock Price Data
Organic Livestock Prices
September 2020
 |
£ / kg Data courtesy of OLMC |
| Beef - Finished (under 30 months) |
£4.42 (R4L Base) |
| Cull Cow (OTM in spec) |
£2.95 (R4L) |
| Beef - Stores | See store cattle report below |
| Lambs - Finished OSL | - |
| Lambs - Finished NSL | £4.70 (R3L Base) |
N.B. Prices serve as a guide only and are averaged from information collected from key producers and traders.
Market Summaries
(September 10th)
Courtesy of OLMC. For further information on the marketing of finished stock, please call: 01763 250313 / 07850 366404 www.olmc.co.uk
Please note prices accurate when report was written but due to the volatility currently prices may alter.
Organic Prime Beef Cattle
The summer and another harvest has passed and thankfully the beef trade was strong with good returns for producers. Traditionally this time of the year can be difficult especially when the supply of cattle outweighs the demand. However the weather conditions played a part, dry with average to poor summer grass slowed up cattle coming out in flushes, price and demand was boosted by the staycations and the eat out to help out schemes that were very popular during the summer. With schools now open and people returning to a more balanced work life we have seen the trade ease with price and demand come back a touch.
With a below average corn and forage harvest for most, there is a concern in some areas of the country for feed stocks to be able to finish cattle as well as the scarcity of straw for feed and breeding
Organic Cull Cows
The cow trade remained very strong throughout the summer and has in the last couple of weeks following the finished price by easing a little, however returns are still very good for finished cows with a bit of weight.
Finished Lambs
The lamb trade has been more stable than most years and although the price tried to weaken over the summer, demand and a gradual lamb supply coming forward has helped to hold the trade together. Lamb producers certainly haven’t experienced the large swings in price that we have seen in past years and will be generally pleased with returns where weight and specification has been attained.
Store Cattle Report
(September 17th).
Courtesy of Peter Jones (working in conjunction with OLMC). For further information on the marketing of organic store cattle, please contact Peter Jones or Rachel Cooke: 01829 730580 / 07720 892922 www.peterjoneslivestock.com
In most areas of the UK grass is still in plentiful supply and consequently forage stocks harvested this summer have been good. There are however parts of the UK, particularly the South East, where this is not the case and grass silage and hay are in very short supply. The South East has seen a number of very dry summers in recent years and if this trend is to continue the livestock producers in these areas will need to re think their management and that inevitably means reducing stocking rates.
We have lived through unprecedented times and we have some time to go before we see our lives back to ‘normal’ as a second wave of Covid 19 seems likely. There is no doubt that eating at home has changed the dynamics of meat supply and let’s hope this continues to be the ‘new normal’.
The ongoing debates and negotiations over Brexit continue and economists are making variable predictions on the likely effect on meat prices. Some are predicting large rises in the meat trade whilst others are predicting a less dramatic rise.
The organic beef price has been largely flat for the last 2 to 3 years with only a slight rise however this year the finished price for beef and lamb has risen since mid April. Although we have in recent weeks seen some downward pressure in price but as I speak the prices are still good and giving producers a good return for their stock which I think will continue. Store cattle prices have reflected that of finished stock with a lot of store cattle achieving returns for producers of between £50 to £150 more than 12 months ago.
Lamb prices have also seen substancial rises with both finished lambs and store lambs making £10 to £15 more than 12 months ago. Going into the back end I predict that prices will remain firm for store cattle for this time of year. The lamb trade in theory should be most vulnerable to downward pressure from export tariffs post Brexit but the underlying strength of continued demand may just overcome the difficulties in exporting the product.
Demand for dairy stock continues to be strong with cross bred type grazing cows and heifers being particularly sort after by organic producers expanding and for new organic milk producers setting up.
For advice on the marketing of organic store cattle, store lambs and dairy stock please ring the office on 01829 730 580 or myself on 07720 892 922
If you are looking for any of the above please do not hesitate to contact us.
Peter Jones
17/09/2020
Scotland
Market information can be found at:
http://farmstock.org.uk/market-report/
