Wide margin in cow prices

Marts: There was no movement in the average price paid for R grade bullocks and heifers at the factories last week, while a margin of 40c/kg (14p/lb) opened up between factories for cull cows as prices came under downward pressure.

Factory averages for the quality R grade cull cows ranged between 98p/lb and 84p/lb, with differences of 9p/lb between factories for O grade and P grade animals.

Prices were unchanged at Euro Farm Foods at Duleek, Co Meath, the clear leaders on price for the week, paying an average of 97p/lb for R4L, 89p/lb for O4L and 88p/lb for P+4L grades. Most factories cut prices with returns to suppliers from some processors falling from the recent high.

Cow supplies remained high at 7,285 head compared to 5,672 head for the same week last year.

While the national average paid for R4L bullocks remained stable at 105.5p/lb, the average for O4L bullocks slipped under 102p/lb and there was some indications of a weakening of the trade at individual factories with signs of a return to the grid scale.

AIBP at Bandon paid an average of just over 104p/lb for R3 bullocks, while the price paid for R4 slipped by 6c/kg (2p/lb) in line with the grid scale to just over 102p/lb. The difference between the grades was similar at the AIBP Cahir plant. Donegal Meat Products and Euro Farm Foods shared the highest factory average at 107.6p/lb for R4L bullocks ahead of Kepak at Clonee, Ashbourne at Roscrea, AIBP at Clones and Moyvalley Meats, Co Kildare.

Heifer prices were similar to bullocks at an average of 105.2p/lb for R4L and 102p/lb for O4L grades. The bullocks supply at 11,918 head was 800 up on the same week in 2004 and heifer supply was similar to 2004 at 5,972. The total kill was 28,565 head, compared to 27,085 in 2004.