Stronger factory beef trade

Marts: Kildare Chilling and Kepak (Watergrasshill) increased prices by an average of 1.5p/lb to top the improvements in prices paid for R4L bullocks last week to bring the averages at the individual plants to 109.6p/lb and 108.8p/lb respectively.

Donegal Meats dropped by 0.4p/lb — on the heel of an increase of 2p/lb the previous week — to pay the highest factory average of 110.8p/lb. AIBP (Bandon), Dawn (Ballaghadereen), Kepak (Clonee), Meadow Meats and Liffeys all improved prices by 1p/lb.

Farmer pay-sheet returns show that the highest paid last week was 112.4p/lb for U3 at Donegal Meats, slightly ahead of Slaney Meats and Euro Foods. Southern prices continued to trail the north-west by up to 4p/lb equivalent to €40/head.

The national average was 109p/lb for R4L bullocks and heifers. Donegal and Euro Food paid 110.8p/lb and 110.2p/lb respectively for R4L bullocks, with Moyvalley Meats (Kildare), Liffey Meats and Newgrange Meats on averages of 109.8p/lb. Kepak (Clonee) averaged 111.8p/lb for R4L heifers, followed by Donegal on an average of 111.1p/lb and Kildare Chilling at 110p/lb, a shade ahead of Euro Foods, with Jennings, Dawn (Ballaghadereen), and Meadow paying 109.6p/lb.

The average for O4L was 107p/lb. Price increases for O grade were marginal with the highest factory average for O3 heifers falling by more than 1p/lb.

The cow trade continued to surge forward with an average of 100p/lb for R4 cows at Euro Foods setting a new record. Dawn (Ballyhaunis) paid the highest price for O grade at 98p/lb and Liffeys were best for P grade at just over 97p/lb. Kepak (Clonee), AIBP (Clones), and Exel were also strong on price for cows.