R grade prices hit eight-year high

Prices for R grade cattle have hit 100p/lb at the factories — the highest March price paid for beef by processors in eight years.

Carrigan’s of Donegal Meat Processors paid an average of 99.8p/lb for R3 bullocks last week, according to official farmer pay-sheet returns.

The improvement of 1p/lb was paid by most of the factories for cattle last week with an overall average increase of slightly less than 1p/lb recorded for R3 bullocks which averaged a shade under 95p/lb.