Little change in beef prices

There was very little movement in beef prices at most of the factories last week.

Demand for heifers maintained the lead over the bullocks in prices paid with a top price of 111p/lb at Kepak, Clonee, for R4L heifers, while almost 96p/lb was paid for quality heavy cows at the same processing centre.

The intake was 34,134, of which bullocks accounts for 13,712 head — 1,100 head lower than the previous week — and almost 10,000 heifers.

The average for R4L bullocks gained less than 1 cent/kg with an overall average of 106.8p/lb being paid. Group averages at AIBP and Dawn came in unchanged from the previous week at slightly less than the national average — AIBP Group paying 106.6p/lb and Dawn Group on 106.3p/lb.

Donegal Meats paid an average of 108p/lb. Dunbia Newgrange (Navan), Kapak (Athleague) and Euro Foods (Duleek) were all on 107.5p/lb followed by Moyvalley (Kildare), AIBP (Waterford) and Liffey Meats (Ballyjamesduff) each just over 107p/lb. The average for O4L bullocks was 103.7p/lb. Jennings of Ballinrobe led the field at an average of 106.4p/lb — which was similar to the price paid for the R’s at the plant indicating a strong element of flat price deals — followed by Kepak (Clonee) at 106p/lb.

Heifers maintained the lead over bullocks at a national average of 107.7p/lb for R4L — aided by a very strong price of 111p/lb including bonus payments for producer club cattle at Kepak (Clonee) — with AIBP (Waterford) at 109p/lb and a number of plants all paying over 108p/lb. The average for O3 heifers was 103.6p/lb.

Cow prices reached a new peak for 2007 of almost 96p/lb for R grade animals at Kepak (Clonee) — up 2p/lb — with the top price for O/P grades unchanged at 90p/lb — 89p/lb at Dawn (Waterford) for the former and Kildare and AIBP (Clones) for the latter.