Price increases across all grades

Marts: Beef prices increased by an average of 3c/kg (1p/lb), while individual factories paid up to 6c/kg (2p/lb) more for cattle, despite an upward trend in supplies for last week.

The average for R4L bullocks increased to 286c/kg (102p/lb), while the average for R4L heifers increased to 292c/kg (104p/lb) after more than half the factories increased prices by 3c-6c/kg (1p-2p/lb)

Beef prices benefited from an immediate reaction to the foot-and- mouth outbreak in Britain which resulted in a ban on meat exports, creating increased demand in home and export markets for Irish processors.

An increase of 1,600 head in the supply of bullocks to 13,481 head was not enough to dampen the upward price trend with the supply of heifers slipping by 800 head to 6,096. The total kill at 27,595 was up 400 on the previous week.

The trade was driven by the smaller processors. Group averages for R4L bullocks at the AIBP Group and Dawn Group increased by 2c/kg — which was less than the national average increase — with Kepak Group on par with the national average showing an increase of 3c/kg.

Midland and northern based factories were price leaders. Dunbia Newgrange and Euro Foods (Duleek) paid an average of 290c/kg (103.6p/lb) just ahead of Donegal Meats and AIBP (Clones) with Dawn (Ballaghadeeen), Slaney (Bunclody) and Kildare Chilling each paying 287c/kg (102.6p/lb). The national mean for O4L bullocks was 274c/kg (98p/lb) with Euro Foods paying 282c/kg (102p/lb).

R4L heifers averaged 292c/kg (104p/lb). Kepak (Clonee) paid 305c/kg (109p/lb) but allowance should be made for the bonus on contract supplies. Dawn (Waterford) paid 301c/kg (107p/lb) and Slaney (Bunclody) 297c/kg 106p/lb). O3 grade heifers averaged 277c/kg (99p/lb).

Cow prices were also stronger. Euro and AIBP (Clones both paid 239c/kg (85p/lb) for O grade and a number of the plants paid 235c/kg (84p/lb) for Ps.