No change in upward trend

Marts: The overall trend in beef prices continued upwards at the factories with further gains of just under 2 cent/kg in the average for R4L bullocks for last week which brought the average paid to just over 105p/lb.

While the top price of 107p/lb at Donegal Meats was only fractionally higher, Kildare Chilling paid 1.5p/lb more at an average of 106.4p/lb and Kepak (Clonee), AIBP (Waterford, Bandon and Nenagh), Meadow Meats, and Ashbourne (Roscrea) all paid 1p/lb more. One third of the factories paid 106p/lb or better for R4L bullocks and a further third paid between 105p/lb and 106p/lb with the southern factories continuing to trail the rest of the country.

The intake of bullocks was almost identical to the previous week at 19,993, out of a total throughput which was up 600 head at 37,776 head. The supply of cattle to the factories has slipped slightly under the same time last year.

Three of the six AIBP factories paid over the average for R4L bullocks — Waterford and Clones paying almost 106p/lb, and 105.5p/lb at Nenagh. Dawn factories at Waterford, Rathdowney and Ballaghadereen paid the average of 105p/lb while Midleton bought their intake for an average of 1p/lb less. The average for R4L heifers was a fraction over 105p/lb with a top price of almost 110p/lb at Kepak (Clonee).

Wide variations are showing between factories for cows, offering the potential for substantial gains on shopping around for prices. Euro Farm Food paid an average of 97p/lb for R4L cows. Dunbia’s Exel and Newgrange continued to lead for O/P grade at an average of 91p/lb. The widest variations emerge in O grade — one factory paid an average of 68p/lb for O4L — and P grade with prices ranging from 91p/lb back to 74p/lb.