Beef making lower gains
Intake at the factories was up almost 1,000 head at 32,756. The bullocks were marginally lower (down 200 head) at 14,049 and the supply of heifers up 500 head at 10,106. The price increase was enough to push the average paid for R4L bullocks to 336c/kg (120p/lb) for the first time in two decades, a significant benchmark for producers with a top factory average of 340c/kg (121.3p/lb) paid by Donegal Meats, a whisker ahead of Liffeys (Hacketstown and Ballyjamesduff) Moyvalley, Euro and Slaney Meats.
The higher prices are being paid by the smaller processors. The average paid by the three larger processing groups (AIBP, Dawn and Kepak), who control half of the factories, was 335c/kg, while the rest combined paid an average of 338c/kg for the same type stock. The factories in Munster were also collectively trailing the rest of the country at 334c/kg compared with 338c/kg for the R4L bullocks.
