Livestock trade is a bit more difficult

Many purchasing slaughterhouse quotations have now been reduced by a penny for three weeks in a row, traders report. The cancellation of slaughter days these weeks also means that slaughterhouses are less eager to buy extra animals. Prices for both slaughter cows and bulls will therefore often be reduced this week by around €0,10 per kilo of slaughtered weight. Prices have also fallen in recent weeks at the livestock market in Leeuwarden.

Cows for slaughter remain relatively expensive
The negative price changes are recorded for all types of beef cattle. This means that milked cows remain relatively expensive compared to luxury slaughter animals. Sales of the more expensive cuts of meat remain the most difficult at the moment.

The supply of cattle for slaughter has also increased slightly in recent times. Traders note that more milked cows are being offered. A number of livestock farmers may be busy taking stock with regard to the use of phosphate rights towards the end of the year, especially because fewer cows were sold in the first half of this year due to the favorable milk price development.

Insiders hope that the current price corrections have been enough for the time being to keep beef sales going well. Prices may perhaps show some recovery after the summer holidays, when slaughterhouses will want to use all their hooks again. However, the spending capacity of consumers remains an uncertain factor that could actually hinder the market.