THE cattle trade has steadied over the past two weeks as cattle availability begins to tighten.

After several months of declining prices, there has been some increase in prices for cattle meeting R4L specification said Stuart Ashworth, who is Head of Economic Services at Quality Meat Scotland.

However he observes that market sentiment remains fragile. "The latest slaughter statistics show June prime cattle slaughtering across GB to be 1.5 per cent higher than last year.

"This is a tighter supply than the 3 per cent year-on-year increase in May."

Due to a reduced kill in Northern Ireland, the UK prime cattle kill in June is almost 1 per cent lower than last year.

Meanwhile, cull cow slaughtering is well below last year's levels.

"However, carcase weights continue to run well ahead of last year's levels and the volume of beef on the market, although sliding, continues to be higher than last year," said Mr Ashworth.

"UK beef production in June is estimated to have been 2.5 per cent higher than a year earlier - much lower than the 5 per cent year-on-year increase in production seen in May.

Provisional data from price-reporting abattoirs suggests that prime cattle slaughter numbers have tightened further in July."

Mr Ashworth explained that there were a number of factors suggesting the reduction in cattle numbers reaching abattoirs, if not carcase weights, is likely to continue for some time.

GB calf registrations during 2012 fell behind year-earlier levels during the final quarter.

Calf registrations remained lower than year-earlier levels for nine of the 12 months of 2013.

With the average age of male cattle slaughtered in the UK currently around 21-months (or 23-months for heifers), this sets the scene for a fall in GB cattle numbers reaching slaughter age.

Looking across the water, the volume of cattle reaching Irish abattoirs is also beginning to ease, observed Mr Ashworth.

"Although slaughter volumes in recent weeks remain about 15 per cent higher than year-earlier levels, this is substantially below the 25-30 per cent increase in kill seen at the beginning of June.

"Ireland also saw a reduction in calf registrations during late 2012 and throughout 2013.

"Combined with an increase in live cattle exports in 2013, reduced calf registrations will mean Ireland's supply will tighten."

Market round-up

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 3223 prime lambs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £94 per head and 205p per kg to average 173.3p (-19.7p on the week).

A larger show of 5331 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £128 for Texels and average £77.50 (-£3.42), while light ewes peaked at £85 for Lleyns and levelled at £43.84 (+67p).

Rams sold to £200 for a ­Charollais and averaged £94.75 (+£6.26).