The number of cattle being processed at beef export plants is running at 6 per cent lower than at this time last year, An Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, has said.
So far this year, it said, 1.23 million head of cattle had been slaughtered, but there had been a fall, by 74,000, in the number of steers processed, 11 per cent down on the same period last year. The number of heifers slaughtered fell by 9 per cent in the first nine months of the year.
A Bord Bia report said this tighter supply of steers and heifers reflected an increase in live exports during 2002 and lower calf registrations in 2003.
Similarly, cow numbers were also relatively tight during the January to September period at almost 231,000 head, some 11,500 head or 5 per cent lower than during the same period in 2003.
Although steer and heifer disposals were tighter during the January to September period, total young bull throughput increased by almost 32,000 head, or 78 per cent, on levels at the same time last year to almost 72,000 head.
This increase in young bull supplies indicated the increased producer interest in young bull production this year to avail of the higher bull premium, but it was also due to the weaker live trade to the Lebanon to date this year.
While total cattle supplies during the January to September period were lower than levels last year, total supplies during the final quarter of 2004 were forecast to be higher than last year due to a number of factors.
Bord Bia listed these as: