Beef
Business and Policy November 2025 – Beef
Festive Demand We are now in the last quarter of the year, with only 3-4 weeks left of Christmas supermarket orders as processors plan their Christmas kill schedules. Prime cattle prices have held firm throughout September and the first half of October, despite a seasonal lift in weekly slaughter, pointing to resilient demand. While prices…
Business and Policy October 2025 – Beef
Finished beef prices have recently plateaued, with prices for week ending 20 September 2025 sitting at 652p/kg/dwt for R4L grades, down 5.2p/kg/dwt from the previous week. At the time of writing, prices have since dropped further, with processors quoting around 645-650p/kg/dwt. At the start of September, the price quoted for R4L steers was 658p/kg/dwt, up…
Easter Howgate Study – Autumn Born Finishing Bulls
When Easter Howgate set out to ease housing pressure caused by an expanding spring calving herd, they found a unique solution. By establishing a “B Herd” of underperforming cows and implementing a synchronised AI programme using sexed male semen, they successfully transformed a previously underperforming group into a productive and valuable unit. The use of…
A Guide to Artificial Calf Colostrum
There are many artificial colostrum products available for dairy and beef calves. They are labelled as either colostrum supplements, colostrum replacers or can be classed as both and it is important to know when to use which product. A replacer is there to completely replace the first feed of maternal colostrum. A supplement should be…
Business and Policy September 2025 – Beef
Falling consumer demand and imported beef impacting on finished prices After a volatile spring, trade for prime cattle rose last month following a period of lower slaughterings, helping to rebalance the market. The start of August saw finishers quietly filled with cautious optimism following several weeks of stable deadweight prices with prices edging upwards. However,…
Business and Policy August 2025 – Beef
Sharp decline in beef prices levelling off as beef remains in tight supply After several weeks of finished price declines – 70p/kg beef drop in 6 weeks – deadweight prime cattle prices in Scotland have been more stable since the week of the Highland show, with price reductions averaging 1p at the end of June…
Business and Policy July 2025 – Beef
Beef prices What a difference a month can make! Deadweight steers in Scotland averaged £7.15 per kg in mid-May, up by £2.20/kg compared with the same week last year. However, over the past six weeks finished beef prices have fallen, currently sitting at around £6.40 – £6.50/kg/dwt for R4L grades. At £6.40/kg a 380kg carcase…
Calving Intervals and Small Herds
Calving Intervals are one of many Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that can be used in any suckler herd to assess how a herd is performing. Although some consideration is needed when applying these to small herds (see Performance Targets for Small Herds). Calving Intervals now have implications for support payments for all herd sizes. This…
Business and Policy June 2025 – Beef
Young bull numbers impacting on prices Deadweight steers in Scotland averaged 715p/kg in mid-May, up by £2.20p/kg compared with the same week last year. However, as predicted, slaughter availability has seen an uplift in May which has contributed to processors dropping prices. For two consecutive weeks, finished beef prices have dropped back by over 10p/kg/dwt….
Business and Policy May 2025 – Beef
Prices top £7 per kilo An unprecedented beef trade continues, with finished prices surpassing £7/kg, for the first time, as demand for beef continues to be outstripped by supply. At the start of April finished deadweight beef prices were sitting at 705p/kg, compared with 516p/kg in November, a reflection of the demand for beef. Finished…