Factories reduce cattle prices

Marts: While the upward trend in cattle prices was maintained at a third of the country’s factories last week with slight increases, 11 of the remaining factories reduced prices paid for stock by up to 2c/kg — the first reversal of the upward trend year to date.

While the overall national average for R4L bullocks was unchanged at 336c/kg (120p/lb), the top price paid for R grade cows set a new record at 313c/kg (112p/lb), but the surge was not matched for O/P grades, which remained stable.

The indicators over the past 10 days that the processors had moved to stall the upward trend have been confirmed in the farmer pay sheet returns from the processors for last week’s kill showed that limited improvements were more than offset by reductions in a number of categories.

However, the increase in supplies has turned — with a reduction of 1,200 head to a kill of 31,499 — which could have the effect of reversing the pressure to the factories and restore stability to the trade.

Processors paid an average of 336c/kg (120p/lb) for R4L bullocks and 338c/kg (120.7p/lb) for similar grade heifers last week, the bullock price remained unchanged, while heifers lost 1c/kg.

At the top of the trade the highest U grade price for both bullocks and heifers was 350c/kg (125p/lb) at Donegal Meats. Donegal also paid the highest for R4L bullocks at 341c/kg (121.8p/lb).

Kepak (Clonee) were the highest for R4L heifers at 344c/kg (123p/lb).

The average O grade price was down 1c/kg for O4L bullocks at 327c/kg (116.7p/lb) and a similar amount for O3 heifers at 328c/kg (117.2p/lb).

The price paid for R grade cows hit a new peak at 313c/kg (112p/lb) at Kepak (Clonee) — similar grade cows were bought back to 284c/kg (101p/lb) across the range of factories.

Dawn (Ballyhaunis) was best for O/P grade cows at an average of 292c/kg (104.4p/lb) for Ps and 290c/kg (103.5p/lb) for O grade.