Weekly cull cow throughputs climbed sharply through the autumn, reaching an estimated 12,600 head in the week ending 8 November. Analysts say dairy producers are responding to falling milk returns by reducing costs, improving cash flow and replacing lower-performing cows with younger, more efficient animals.

The market remains attractive because beef prices are still historically strong. The average GB deadweight cow price recently reached 525.1p/kg, up from 347.8p/kg a year earlier, while liveweight cull cows averaged 245.7p/kg at auction markets in England and Wales. Those values are encouraging many dairy farmers to capitalize on firm demand before prices potentially soften.

Auctioneers report that many of the cows coming forward are barren animals or cows in mid-lactation that no longer fit the herd’s efficiency goals. In many cases, the money generated from selling those cows is being reinvested in younger stock with higher milk potential. Even so, traders do not expect an overwhelming flood of dairy cows because the national herd has already become smaller and more productive over time.