Beef prices increase 9 cent/kg
The largest weekly price increase in months, confirmed in the official farmer pay-sheet payments to suppliers of cattle to the factories, has been pushed by the scarcity of cattle which worsened last week.
Intake of bullocks fell to 15,790 head - more than 30% down on the same week last year - leaving a deficit of almost 7,000 head on the intake for the same week in 2004. Total throughput for the week was 10,000 head less than the corresponding week last year at 32,634 head.
The factories paid an average of 7-9 cent/kg more for cattle on average, an average improvement of up to 3p/lb. An average of 89p/lb was paid for R4L bullocks, with a top price of over 93p/lb average being paid by Donegal Meats. Ten factories paid averages of more than 90p/lb. While a majority of the factories paid around 89p/lb average four plants bought supplies for an average of less than 88p/lb. Factories which paid averages of 90p/lb included Jennings, Newgrange, Moyvalley, Euro Foods, Slaney Meats and Liffey Meats.
The national average paid for O4L bullocks was slightly shy of 86p/lb, with 90p/lb average being paid at Donegal.
Heifer prices topped the bullocks by more than 1p/lb with a national average of 90.6p/lb paid for R4L. The top price was 105p/lb average at Kepak, Clonee - which included the premium on contract supplies - while Donegal Meats paid an average of almost 93p/lb, Slaney Meats over 92p/lb, AIBP, Nenagh 92p/lb and Dawn, Waterford slightly less. The overall average for O4L heifers was 85p/lb.
Prices for O and P grade cows improved by 6-9 cents/kg (2p-3p/lb), AIBP Clones paying an average of 76p/lb for O grade and Euro Farm Foods paying 74p/lb for P+4 grade. The top price for R grade - 81p/lb at Euro - was unchanged.
