Factories to tighten upward trend

Marts: The indications that the factories were anxious to tighten the upward price trend for beef has been confirmed in the farmer pay sheet returns for last week’s kill.

But while the intentions of the processors became apparent — some factories reducing the average price slightly while others paid a little more — the overall average for R4L bullocks continued to increase, if only by a margin of 1c/kg to 105.3p/lb

The trade for heifers fared a little better recording an average of almost 106p/lb for R4L and a top individual factory price of almost 111p/lb paid by Kepak at Clonee while AIBP also emerged as very strong contenders for heifers at Waterford, Nenagh and Bandon.

Although threatening to weaken this week, the cow trade also surged forward with 100p/lb topped for R grade cows at Euro Farm Foods, Duleek, Co Meath.

A few of the factories paid up to 0.4p/lb less for R4L bullocks, but this was more than balanced by the number of plants which paid up to 1p/lb more for the same stock. However it is significant that for the fourth consecutive week the price at Donegal Meats, marginally shy of 107p/lb, has been almost static.

The easing in the trend was aided by an increase of 1,100 head in the kill to 38,820 head.

Dawn and Kepak Groups all paid more for R4L bullocks. AIBP Group and Kepak Group paid over 105p/lb average — on a par with the national mean — with Dawn Group paying just shy of 105p/lb.

Apart from the top price of just over 100p/lb for R grade cows at Euro, Liffeys paid an average of 90p/lb for O grade and 90p/lb average for P grade was paid by Dawn at Midleton. Dunbia Exel (Kilbeggan), Kepak (Clonee), AIBP (Clones and Waterford) were also strong contenders for cows.