Marginal increase in prices
While prices improved by up to 1p/lb for R3 bullocks at some factories, the improvement in the overall average was 1 cent/kg - about one-third p/lb - with the average paid for R3 heifers improved by just over 0.5p/lb.
Prices paid for R3 bullocks averaged just under 89p/lb. Carrigans of Donegal continued to pay the highest average at 93.2p/lb with Duffys of Gort, AIBP at Clones and Cahir, paying an average of 90p/lb and prices at AIBP at Nenagh and Dawn Meats at Midleton averaging just under 90p/lb.
At the lower end of the scale, five factories paid averages of less than 88p/lb which likely included a high percentage of over age cattle at a discount of up to 3p/lb. The average paid for O3 bullocks was a fraction over 84p/lb.
The trade for heifers has edged ahead of the bullocks with a premium of almost 1p/lb showing in the average for R3 at 89.6p/lb, an improvement of just over 0.5p/lb. There was a top price of 95p/lb average paid by Kepak at Clonee - which probably included a mix of the premium price contract beef raising the overall average at the plant - and an average of over 92p/lb at Carrigans.
Liffey meats at Ballyjamesduff, AIBP at Bandon and Dawn Meats at Waterford each paid an average of just under 91p/lb. Jennings of Ballinrobe, Slaney Meats, Bunclody and AIBP at Nenagh each paid an average of 90.5p/lb.
The average for O3 heifers was just short of 85p/lb.
Prices for cull cows continued strong with almost 76p/lb average being paid for R4H animals at Moyvalley Meats, Co Kildare and for O4H grade at Kepak at Clonee. More factories processing cows has increased the competition.
