Tighter prices at the factories

Marts: As beef prices tightened at the factories for a second week, analysis of factory averages for the first two months of 2007 show smaller factories led the field within a narrow price variation nationally.

The average factory price for R4L bullocks for January-February from 26 factories ranged between 107.6p/lb and 106p/lb. The top 10 factories paying between 107/6p/lb and 106.9p/lb were Donegal Meats, Jennings (Ballinrobe), Dunbia Newgrange (Navan), Liffeys (Ballyjamesduff), Euro Foods (Duleek), Slaney (Bunclody), AIBP (Bandon and Waterford).

For R4L heifers over the period nationally there was a variation of 110p/lb to 106p/lb. Ten of the best varied between 110p/lb and 107.7p/lb. They were Kepak (Clonee), Euro Foods (Duleek), AIBP (Nenagh), Slaney (Bunclody), AIBP (Waterford), Dawn (Waterford), Jennings (Ballinrobe) and Donegal.