Latest cull cow information shows that for the week ending 27/06/08, the average price of dairy sired cull cows fell by 3.3% (3.25p/kg) to an average of 95.84p/kg. The number of dairy sired cows culled during the period also fell by 8.7% (93) to 972.

The average price of beef sired cull cows increased in the week ending 27/06/08, by 0.72p/kg (0.61%) to an average of 119.07p/kg. There were also 179 more beef sired cows culled in the week ending 27/06/08, an increase of 27.0% compared to the previous week.

Annual comparisons show that the average price of a dairy sired cull cow has increased by 32.54p/kg (51.4%) from an average of 63.30p/kg in June 2007. Beef sired cull cow prices are 54.6% (42.07p/kg) higher than in June 2007, when they stood at an average of 77.00p/kg.

Source: Defra, MLC

Slaughter Statistics

Published 27 June 2008

Latest slaughter statistics from Defra show that 31,899 cows were slaughtered in May, 12,711(28.5%) less than in April. There were also 56,910 heifers slaughtered in May, 19,234 (25.3%) less than in April.

Annual comparisons show that in May 2008, 3,641 (12.9%) more cows were slaughtered than in May 2007, when the figure stood at 28,258. Over the same period, 3,185 (5.3%) less heifers were slaughtered in May 2008, giving a total of 60,095 heifers slaughtered in May 2007.

These figures exclude animals slaughtered under the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme.

OCDS (Older Cattle Disposal Scheme)

Published 4 July 2008

The scheme allows for the disposal of cattle born before August 1996. Payment is on a per head basis, with rates being reduced over the duration of the scheme. Compensation in 2006 was €360 per animal. In 2007 it was €324 and the rate in 2008 is €292, the scheme is due to end on 31 December 2008.

The July payment rate is £231.34/head based on a Euro exchange rate of £0.79225. Latest OCDS data from Defra shows that in the week ending 29/06/08, 1,231 cattle were put through the scheme, 10.2% (114) more than the previous week. More information on weekly statistics is available in the backdata sheet.
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Source: Defra, MLC