Beef price decline has eased

Marts: The decline in average beef prices at the factories has almost bottomed out, as the intake of cattle shows the first signs of shrinking but the factories continued to pay a margin of up to 3c/kg (1p/lb) over the official quotes.

The national average paid for R4L bullocks and heifers slipped by 1c/kg last week as the intake at the processors dropped by 1,200 head to just over 29,000 head.

Bullocks were back 400 head at 13,447 head and the heifer intake was also down by 400 head.

The processors paid an average of 283c/kg (101p/lb) for R4L bullocks and 287c/kg (102.6p/lb) for R4L heifers — both categories 1c/kg lower.

The average for O4L bullocks was 269c/kg (96.2p/lb) and O3 heifers averaged 270c/kg (96.5p/lb) — both categories weaker by 2c/kg.

As prices paid by individual factories for R4L bullocks tightened closer to 280c/kg (100p/lb) less than one in three plants paid 283c/kg (101p/lb) or better.

Jennings (Ballinrobe) paid a very strong average of 302c/kg (108p/lb), AIBP (Clones), and Dunbia (Navan) at 286c/kg (102p/lb), and Euro Foods, Donegal Meats, Slaney Meats, and Kepak (Kilbeggan) paying averages of 283c-285c/kg.

Heifer prices maintained a lead of 3c-6c/kg (1p-2p/lb) over the bullocks.

Kepak (Clonee) paid the highest price at an average of 304c/kg (108.5p/lb); Euro and Slaney at 293c/kg (104.5p/lb), Dunbia (Navan) Meadow, and Jennings paying an average of 291c/kg.

Cow prices came back sharply from the peak

of the previous weeks trade.

Ashbourne Meats (Roscrea) were the leaders for R grade cows at 254c/kg (90.6p/lb), 3c (1p/lb) stronger than the previous week’s clear leaders, Donegal Meats, who were the best last week for O grade at 236c/kg (84p/lb) which one factory purchased for 203c/kg (72p/lb).

Kepak (Clonee) paid an average of 228c/kg (81p/lb) for P grade.