Difference of 42c/kg on cows

A wide variation has opened up between individual factories on cow prices — up to 42c/kg (15p/lb).

This offers suppliers a handsome return for shopping around before selling as the gap between prime beef and cow prices continues to narrow.

Up to 274c/kg (almost 98p/lb) was paid for R4 grade cows last week, an increase of 3c/kg (1p/lb) while the average for R4L bullocks dropped by 5c/kg (2p/lb) to 288c/kg (103p/lb) in the most unusual May beef market for decades, dashing the confidence of producers in the industry.

The wide variation in cow prices was the norm across the grades. Donegal Meats were the top buyers of cows in the country — usually the dominant buyer for prime quality beef — at 274c/kg for R4L which was a clear 42c/kg ahead of the lowest price paid for the same grade, according to the official pay sheet returns.

Dawn Meats, Waterford paid an average of 250c/kg (89p/lb) for O3 cows a margin of 20c/kg (7p/lb) above the lowest price for the same grade and at 247c/kg (88p/lb) paid the highest price for P+4 grade cows which was also 20c/kg above the worst- paying plant.

There was very little to ease the pressure on beef prices with a general decline of up to 6c/kg (2p/lb) at the factories for R4L bullocks paying an average of 288c/kg (103p/lb) which was 19c/kg below the same week in 2006.

Donegal, Euro, AIBP (Nenagh and Bandon) all paid 291c/kg (104p/lb) or better with the top price of 298c/kg at Donegal. The average for O4L was 275c/kg (98p/lb).

The heifer trade was 4c/kg stronger than the bullocks for R4L at an average of 292c/kg (104.2p/lb) Kepak (Clonee), Donegal, Dawn (Waterford) AIBP (Nenagh and Bandon) and Liffey’s (Hacketstown) were the leaders at 293c/kg (104.5p/lb) or better. The average for O3 was 275c/kg (98p/lb)

Intake at the factories was 2,300 higher at 32,483 head with bullocks slightly up at 13,806.