Cow prices increase 4c per kilo

Cow prices gained 4c/kg with up to 273c/kg being paid for R-grade cows.

Meanwhile, average prices for prime beef by the processors were unchanged for last weeks kill.

In an unusual twist to the beef trade, Donegal Meats emerged as price leaders for quality cows from last week’s pay sheet returns from the factories, while slipping down the league of leaders on price for both heifers and bullocks.

The north-western processor set a new price record for cow beef for 2007 at 273c/kg average paid for R4 cows in last week’s kill. Cow prices continued to firm.

Kildare Chilling, Kepak (Clonee) Dawn (Ballyhaunis) and AIBP (Waterford) plants were all strong contenders for cows on price.

While there was no overall change in the national average for R4L bullocks at 299c/kg, there were a number of positional changes on the price league.

Moving up to the top of the list at an average of 107.6p/lb Dunbia Newgrange (Navan) displaced Donegal Meats which slipped to an average of 107/3p/lb to rate on par with AIBP (Bandon), Slaney (Bunclody) and Dawn (Ballyhaunis). AIBP (Nenagh) and Dawn (Ballaghadereen) each paid an average of 107p/lb. The average for O4L bullocks was unchanged at 103.6p/lb.

Of the larger processors, AIBP Group average increased slightly to 107.6p/lb — recovering some of the loss of the previous week — on the back of gains of 1p/lb at Nenagh and slight increases at Waterford and Bandon, while Dawn, paying an average of 106.6p/lb was unchanged and Kepak was back 0.6p/lb at 106.4p/lb.

National average for R4L heifers was unchanged at 107.5p/lb, while maintaining the lead over the bullocks due to the higher prices being paid for the under age heifers.

Kepak (Clonee) was the price leader at 109.5p/lb, while Euro Foods (Duleek) and AIBP (Nenagh) each paid 108.8p/lb.