Top prices slightly weaker

Marts: There was no change in mainstream average prices paid by the factories for cattle last week, but minor downward adjustments are showing at the top end of the market, which may be early signs of an indicator of a ceiling on returns being positioned by the processors.

Cattle supplies to the factories have built up — last week’s total kill was 32,789 head compared to 30,767 head for the same week last year — and the processors are not anxious to see prices rising further.

The most noticeable trend was the slight weakening in the top price paid for most categories — the exception was R4L heifers which gained 2 cents/kg — and the position of regular leaders like Donegal Meats slipping to fifth place on the price scale for R4L bullocks and failing to make the top seven factories for R4L heifers.

Kepak (Clonee) paid the highest factory average for R4L bullocks at 108p/lb, a shade ahead of Euro Food (Duleek). Dunbia Newgrange (Navan) and AIBP (Clones) came in at an average of 107p/lb, a fraction higher than Donegal Meats, Slaney Meats and AIBP (Bandon). The average for O4L bullocks was 103.7p/lb. The highest price for O4L bullocks was 105.4p/lb at Duffy’s of Gort and Donegal Meats.

Heifer prices have maintained a lead of 1p/lb over the bullocks at 107.5p/lb average for R4L.

AIBP (Nenagh) has consistently been strong contenders on price for the good heifers and last week were the leaders at an average of 110p/lb for R4L, paying almost 1p/lb more than Kepak (Clonee). and Dawn (Waterford).

Euro Food, AIBP (Waterford) and Slaney Meats ranged 108.5p/lb to 108.3p/lb. An average of 103p/lb was paid for R3 heifers — with a top price of 106.5p/lb at Jennings of Ballinrobe.

Plenty of competition for cows maintained prices at a top of 93p/lb for R grade at Euro Foods, with 89p/lb for O grade at Dunbia Exel (Kilbeggan) and 87p/lb for P grade at Charleville Foods.