2022 ends on a historic high for cattle prices, AHDB says
17th January 2023
Average prices for all prime cattle peaked at 448.1p/kg in the final week of December – the highest price on record (back to 2014), according to AHDB figures.
In the four weeks up to 31st December, average prices for prime cattle were slightly above the previous period at 442.6p/kg.
Overall steer prices slightly increased on those seen in November, up 0.7p (0.1%), and ranged from 442.4–448.9p during the period. Prices are up 9% (36.8p) compared to last year.
Overall heifer prices slightly increased to average 441.9p/kg, up by 0.9p (0.2%) on November, and 35.2p (8.7%) on December last year.
Young bulls were the only category of prime cattle to see prices easing in the four-week period ending 31st December, averaging 422.5p/kg. This is a depreciation of 4.8p (1.1%) on November, however still remains 34.6p (8.9%) above prices seen last December.
Overall cow prices averaged 331.6p/kg in the four weeks to 31st December, up 4p (1.2%) on the previous month. As seen with the other categories, prices peaked in the final week of the period (and year), at 349.4p/kg, with prices lowest at the start of the period at 324.7p/kg, a range of 24.7p on the month. Prices were up by 28.6% (73.8p/kg) compared to December last year.
GB prime cattle slaughter (steers, heifers, and young bulls) was estimated at 120,000 head for the month of December. Although back on November by 43,700 head (26.7%), a quieter week between Christmas and New Year reduced the weekly average to almost 30,000 head from 32,700 head in November.
Year to date (w/e 8th Jan–31st Dec) prime cattle slaughter has totalled 1.61 million head. This is more than 5,600 head (0.4%) up on total slaughter number for the previous year, however is the second lowest yearly prime cattle slaughter figures for records back to 2016.
Estimated cow slaughter totalled 44,400 head in the four weeks to 31st December. Throughputs averaged 11,100 head per week during this period, 2,900 head (20%) back on the average weekly throughputs for November. When compared with last December, an additional 5,600 head were processed during the month. Year to date (w/e 8th Jan–31st Dec), 554,700 head cows have been slaughtered, 18,700 head (3.5%) up on 2021.
