Worst of the recent decline over?

Marts: Stronger prices at the top of the market — for both bullocks and heifers — is the positive side of the factory returns for last week kill which provides ground for optimism by producers that the worst of the recent decline is over.

The highest factory average for R4L bullocks was up 2 cents/kg at 300 cents/kg (107.3p/lb) at Dunbia, Slane while the top price for R4L heifers gained 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) with the highest factory average at 310 cents/kg (110.6p/lb) at Kepak, Clonee.

However the price dropped by a further 1-3 cents/kg at a majority of the factories as the national average for R4L bullocks slipped to 295 cents/kg (105.4p/lb) and 298 cents/kg (106.3p/lb) for R4L heifers.