Beef prices maintain upward trend

Marts: THE upward trend in beef prices has been maintained with gains of 4c-5c/kg (2p/lb) in the average price paid by the factories for stock for last weeks kill.

Processors paid an average of 326c/kg (116.3p/lb) for R4L bullocks and 329c/kg (117.6p/lb) for similar grade heifers. Average prices for O grade stock showed a similar increase to 318c/kg (113.6p/lb) for O4L bullocks and 319c/kg (114.2p/lb) for O3 heifers.

These prices are up to 28c/kg (10p/lb) above the same week in 2007, which was a serious loss making season for finishers, and it will go towards defraying the increase of €100/tonne in the cost of concentrates.

The right supply of finished beef animals and the ban on imports from Brazil since the beginning of the month are critical factors contributing to the upward trend in prices.

Last week’s kill was just short of 30,000 head, down 3,500 head on 2007. The supply of bullocks — which declined 1,700 head on the previous week — was almost 4,000 head short of the 2007 level, with tighter supplies on farms and producers holding back as the week-on-week price increase is maintained.

The main players in the market all paid more for stock last week. The Kepak Group average was up 6c/kg (2p/lb) at 326c/kg (116.3p/lb), with Dawn Group adding 4c/kg at 324c/kg (116p/lb) and AIBP Group up 1c/kg at 323c/kg (323c/kg (116p/lb).

Kildare and Slaney paid the highest average for R4L bullocks at 331c/kg (118p/lb) just leading Dawn (Waterford), AIBP (Clones), Liffey’s (Hacketstown) and Kepak (Clonee).

For R4L heifers the leader board is topped by Kepak (Clonee) at 335c/kg (119.5p/lb) leading AIBP (Clones), Euro Foods (Duleek), Moyvalley and Dawn (Ballaghadereen).

The top price paid for P grade cows broke the 280c/kg(100p/lb) benchmark with Kepak (Kilbeggan) paying an average of 283c/kg (101p/lb) in a very strong overall trade for cows. The highest for R grade cows was 289c/kg (103p/lb) at Kildare Chilling.