Record for consecutive price rises

Marts: Beef prices gained 2c/kg at the factories last week, setting an autumn record of rising prices for eight consecutive weeks which brought the average R-grade price to almost 105p/lb.

Over 110p/lb was paid for R4L heifers by Kepak (Clonee) while the highest price for R4L bullocks was shared between Donegal Meats and Dunbia Newgrange (Navan) at 106.6p/lb. The margin between the factories narrowed to 3p/lb in favour of those in the north.

Kepak (Athleague), Dawn (Ballyhaunis), AIBP (Rathkeale), Dunbia Exel (Kilbeggan), and Slaney (Freshford) increased the average for R4L bullocks by 1p/lb. Improved margins of slightly less were paid by AIBP (Cahir, Clones, and Bandon); Meadow (Rathdowney); Kildare (Kildare); Dawn (Ballaghadereen), and Dunbia Newgrange (Navan).

The average for O4L bullocks was just under 102p/lb with a top price of over 104p/lb at Donegal Meats. The average for O3 heifers was just over 101p/lb with a peak of almost 105p/lb at Donegal. The average price has now risen eight weeks in a row — an autumn record — gaining 14 cents/kg (5p/lb) since the start of August.

Throughput at the factories was stable at 37,180 head, of which bullocks accounted for 19,918 and heifers 7,865. Total throughput was 2,000 head below the same week last year.

Overall cow prices were stable, but differences of up to 25c/kg (9p/lb) have emerged between factories for O-grade cows. The top price of 97p/lb for R-grade cows — paid by Euro Farm Foods, Duleek — was unchanged. Dunbia Exel (Kilbeggan) paid the highest for O-grade cows at over 91p/lb, down 2p/lb, while the same processing centre paid over 90p/lb for P-grade, slightly up on the previous week.