High demand for cattle at factories

Marts: Such has been the demand for cattle at the factories over the past week that an increase of over 4,000 in the supply of bullocks failed to deter the average price gaining a further 1 cent/kg — the third consecutive week of price gains.

A surge in the supply of stock to the factories last week, increased total intake to 33,688 head, up by 6,100 on the previous week and 3,500 more than the same week last year. The supply of heifers was up by 1,200 and there was 600 more cows supplied.

Overall the average paid for R4L bullocks increased by 1 cent/kg to 287 cents/kg (102.5p/lb), while R4L heifers were marginally lower at an average of 291 cents/kg (104p/lb). Euro Foods (Duleek) paid an average of 291 cents/kg (104p/lb) for R4L bullocks, while Donegal, Dunbia, Jennings, AIBP (Waterford) and Slaney (Bunclody) all paid 289-290 cents/kg (over 103p/lb). Only five of the 28 factories assessed paid less than 286 cents/kg (102p/lb)