The number of cows killed in factories in Northern Ireland was 14% higher from July to September this year than it was in the same period in 2014, according to figures from the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC).

From the start of the year, cow throughput in factories has mostly been above 2014 levels. Last month, there was a 5% increase in total cows killed compared with September 2014.

Factors contributing to the increased cull rate include a higher number of cows in the dairy and suckler herds in NI, as well as low milk prices, leading to a rise in cows culled on dairy farms.

In DARD’s June 2015 Agricultural Survey, a 2% increase in the suckler herd and a 6% increase in the dairy herd in NI in 2015 is reported. From July to September this year, 61% of cows killed in NI factories were from the dairy herd, a 4% increase in the proportion of dairy cows compared with the third quarter last year.

Carcase weight

In spite of a larger proportion of the kill coming from cows of dairy origin, the average carcase from July to September 2015 was 2.6kg heavier than in the same period last year, when the average carcase weighed 305.8kg.

The average carcase from cows of dairy origin was 2.2kg heavier, at 280.1kg, in the third quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2014. Carcases from cows from the suckler herd are on average 3.5kg heavier for the same period compared with figures from a year earlier, with the average suckler cow carcase weighing 341.1kg from July to September.

Processors have reported that demand for beef has been met by steady supplies of cows coming forward. In September, 2,158 tonnes of cow beef were processed by NI factories, an increase of 6% on September 2014, due to more cows being killed and heavier carcases.

Average cull prices were 4% lower in September, at 213.9p/kg, compared with figures from a year earlier. However, the LMC reports that a reduction in cull prices is mainly due to a lower quality of kill, as O3 cow price is slightly higher, at 248.2p/kg, in September 2015 compared with a year earlier prices when it was 247.1p/kg.

Numbers of cows exported to ROI for direct slaughter has increased sharply due to a rise in numbers coming forward. From July to September 3,202 cows were exported, compared to just 1,274 cows for the same period last year.