FOLLOWING what will be a strong year for supplies this year, a bumper year is being forecast for Irish beef production in 2017, with cattle throughputs set to be their highest in well over a decade.

This year's cattle kill is now estimated to end the year close to 1.64m head, which would be up around 80,000 on 2015. In the year to mid-November, according to figures from Bord Bia, supplies are currently running around five per cent ahead on the year, which equates to 68,500 head. Slaughtering next year could well be up by as much as 120,000 head on the already elevated numbers of this year, close to 1.75m head.

Developments in Irish beef production have the potential to impact on the market situation here, given that the UK market accounts for around half of Irish beef and veal exports. These higher numbers next year are primarily as a result of the growth in aggregate cow numbers over the past few years.

However, compounding the situation, there has been a decline in the numbers of live cattle moving out of Ireland, with the trade in finished cattle and calves most affected.

The main markets for Irish live finished cattle are Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and there has been a significant drop-off in the number of these animals moving onto both these markets. This has been largely driven by a more favourable exchange rate from a UK perspective, which means that Irish-born finished cattle have been a less attractive option to UK processors in recent months.

What this means is that there was substantially more cattle in the slaughter age profile on Irish farms at the start of the autumn this year than there was in 2015. Bord Bia estimates that as of September 1, there were 71,000 more male cattle between 12 and 24 months of age on the ground and over 50,000 more females.

If the estimation for production at 620,000 tonnes is realised, this would mean a rise of almost six per cent on the year.

Market round-up

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 122 store heifers at Ayr on Thursday to a top of 224.7p per kg and an average of 203.7p, while 178 beef-bred bullocks peaked at 283.3p and levelled at 208.6p. Seventy-four store, B&W bullocks sold to 195.7p and averaged 132p.

C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 6738 prime lambs forward at their annual Christmas show and sale in Longtown on Thursday that sold to £100 per head and 245p per kg to average 167p (-7.3p on the week).

There were also 4387 cast sheep when heavy ewes sold to £146 for Texels and averaged £69.06 (-42p), while light ewes peaked at £74 for Lleyns and levelled at £33.24 (+30p). Rams sold to £152 for a Texel and averaged £71.54.