Wide difference in price rises

Marts: An increase of 7c/kg (2p/lb) in the average price being paid by the factories for cattle has maintained the strong upward trend in returns for producers.

However, farmer pay sheet returns from the factories show that regional factors are now costing producers up to 21c/kg (7p/lb) — a difference of around €1,300 in a load of finished cattle of similar grade — as the margin between the prices paid by factories in different areas of the country widens.

In general, producers selling to southern based factories are being paid the lower prices, although this is more pronounced for bullocks than heifers with a greater number of the higher paying factories for heifers based in the south than for the bullocks.

The price variation is also showing between factories in different locations which are operated by the same group.

Within AIBP R4L bullocks averaged 314c/kg at Rathkeale for last weeks kill, while the same grade averaged 319c/kg at the Clones plant. Dawn Meats paid an average of 311c/kg at Waterford and 318c/kg at Ballaghadereen.

Kepak paid an average of 309c/kg at Watergrasshill and 317c/kg at Athleague.

A national average of 316c/kg (113p/lb) was paid for R4L bullocks. Donegal Meats paid the highest factory average at 321c/kg with prices trailing back to 309c/kg underlining the variation and benefit to be gained by shopping around. Dunbia Newgrange, Dawn (Ballaghadereen), Moyvalley, Euro Foods, Ashbourne and AIBP (Clones) all paid 318c/kg of above. An average of 308c/kg was paid for O4L grade.

The national average for R4L heifers was 319c/kg . There was a top price of 328c/kg at Kepak (Clonee), just ahead of AIBP (Nenagh), and followed by Moyvalley, AIBP (Bandon and Rathkeale) Euro Foods and Kepak (Athleague). An average of 309c/kg was paid for O3.

A top price of 280-c/kg was paid for R grade cows and up to 270c/kg for O grade.