Beef price rise is stalling

Marts: While a few factories increased prices for R4L bullocks by almost 3 cents/kg (1p/lb), one-in-three factories paid lower returns or maintained the previous weeks level as processors reacted to the rising trend last week.

Cull cow prices increased to 102.6p/lb at the top of the market.

The top price paid for R grade bullocks was slightly lower, with the highest available for heifers unchanged.

The highest price was almost 114p/lb for U3 heifers at Ashbourne Meats, Roscrea, slightly a head of Kepak (Clonee). The top price for bullocks was slightly shy of 113p/lb for U grade at Slaney, Kepak (Athleague), Newgrange and Moyvalley.

Except for increases of just under 1p/lb at Kepak (Watergrasshill) and AIBP (Nenagh) improvements from the previous week were marginal with group averages at the three major processing groups, AIBP, Dawn and Kepak failing to match the national average for R4L bullocks of 109.7p/lb. Top for R4L bullocks was Euro Foods (Duleek) at 111.5p/lb followed by Donegal Meats, Newgrange, Kepak (Clonee), Kildare, AIBP (Nenagh) and Exel paying averages between 110.8p/lb and 110.2p/lb. Within AIBP Group, Nenagh paid 110.3p/lb, while Cahir paid 108.5p/lb.

The mean for R4L heifers was similar to bullocks’ with the top price paid for heifers slightly higher at 112p/lb at Kepak (Clonee). AIBP (Nenagh) paid over 111p/lb for R4L heifers.

The mean for O4L bullocks was 108p/lb with a similar price for O3 heifers. Euro Foods paid the highest price for cows at 102.6p/lb for R 4H, Kepak (Clonee) topping for O grade at 98p/lb and 97.5p/lb for P+4L at Ashbourne and AIBP (Clones).