Supply of bullocks plummets

Marts: The supply of bullocks to factories has dropped by over 30% in a single-week landslide, as producers showed the strongest resistance ever to lower prices by cutting the flow of cattle.

Although the downward pressure on prices eased, intake at the factories fell by 8,000 head, starving the factories of supplies and leaving the processors with no choice but to restore prices.

In an almost unprecedented landslide in supply, the intake of bullocks dropped 6,000 head — a decline of more than 30% — while the overall kill fell by 8,000 head to 29,602. The impact of producer resistance was less severe for heifers — down 1,100 head — reflecting the higher prices available for females.

The factories paid an average of just under 103p/lb for R4L bullocks about 0.4p/lb lower — while R4L heifers averaged 104p/lb which was unchanged from the previous week.

The price trend for bullocks varied from an increase of almost 1p/lb to an average just under 104p/lb for R4L at Kildare, to a cut of 1.7p/lb to just over 102.4p/lb at AIBP (Waterford). The price increased slightly to 103.3 at AIBP (Bandon) but overall the AIBP Group paid an average of almost 1p/lb less than the previous week. Dawn Group average cost fell by about half of that amount.

Nine of the factories paid an average of 103p/lb or better, a further 14 paying between 102p/lb and 103p/lb and two factories averaged less than 102p/lb. The average at Donegal Meats eased by nearly 1p/lb to 105.6p/lb. Paying over 103.5p/lb were Ashbourne, Slaney, Jennings, Kildare, Kepak (Watergrasshill) and Dawn (Ballaghadereen).