Cull cows fetch 82p/lb in strong trade
Farmer paysheet factory returns - compiled by the Department of Agriculture - confirmed that a factory average of up to 82p/lb was paid for R grade cull cows, while prime R3 bullocks average a fraction under 92p/lb and the average for R3 heifers was marginally higher, with one factory paying an average of 89p/lb for R3 heifers, which was only 7p/lb more than that paid for R grade cows.
Producers cannot recall when - if ever - the margin between prime beef and cull cow beef narrowed to 7p-10p/lb as beef producers’ anger increases following an accelerated drop in bullock and heifer prices of more than 1p/lb for last week’s kill. The average paid by the Dawn Group and the Kepak Group was down 1.3p/lb on the previous week at 91.7p/lb and 91.8p/lb, respectively. Prices for the AIBP Group were 0.8p/lb lower at an average of 92.3p/lb.
One-third of the factories paid less than 92p/lb average for R3 grade bullocks. Carrigans of Donegal paid the highest price at an average of 95.4p/lb, with AIBP at Clones, Cahir and Nenagh, Kepak at Clonee, Exel Meats at Kilbeggan and Liffey Meats at Ballyjamesduff all paying average between 92.4p/lb and 92.7p/lb. The average for O3 bullocks fell under 88p/lb. Average heifer prices mirrored the bullocks with a national average of just over 92p/lb being paid for R3 animals, but a number of plants paid over 93p/lb, including Kepak, at Clonee, paying an average 98.3p/lb.
