Beef prices maintain momentum

Marts: Continuation of the gradual rise in beef prices delivered a top return of 112p/lb for bullocks and heifers at the factories last week, while a new record of 102p/lb was paid for cows.

Euro Farm Foods at Duleek, Co Meath gave the largest increase for R4L bullocks of 1.5p/lb to bring the factory mean to the national top price of 111.8p/lb. Newgrange Meats was up by 1.3p/lb at 111p/lb and Donegal Meats rose by one-third p/lb to 111p/lb.

The highest overall price for bullocks was 112.3p/lb for U3 at Euro Foods and Donegal Meats. Prices were unchanged or slightly lower at factories which conceded large rises for the previous week with a margin of up to 3p/lb being kept between the south and market leaders in the midlands and north west.