Factory prices remain stable

Marts: Average prices for beef at the factories remained stable last week, retaining the slight gain from the previous week, but the highest individual factory price for bullocks was slightly lower.

Prices for R4L bullocks topped at just under 108p/lb slightly down on the previous week while the national average of a fraction over 105p/lb was unchanged. R4L heifer prices peaked at over 108p/lb partly due to premium beef in the kill while the national average was 105.6p/lb. Cow prices eased slightly to a top of 93.6p/lb for R4.

Bullock prices being paid in the south of the country continue to trail the prices being secured in the midlands and northern regions with only one factory in the south of the country in the top dozen factories for R4L bullocks last week, with some of the southern based plants buying R4L bullocks at an average of just over 103p/lb.

The leaderboard was dominated by Donegal Meats paying an average of 107.7p/lb, AIBP at Clones and Kepak at Clonee paying 106.5p/lb, Newgrange Meats on an average of 106.3p/lb, Euro Farm Foods at Duleek and Exel at Kilbeggan on 106.1p/lb.

The average for O4L bullocks was 102p/lb. - unchanged from the previous week.

Kepak at Clonee paid the top price of 108.5p/lb for R4L heifers last week, but the kill included some stock from the contract club producers at a premium to the base price. Donegal Meats paid 107.7p/lb and just under 107p/lb average were Jennings of Ballinrobe, Liffeys of Ballyjamesduff and AIBP at Clones. AIBP at Nenagh and Exel at Kilbeggan paid an average of 106.2p/lb. The national average for O4L heifers was 102.7p/lb.

The factory kill last week was slightly down at a total of 28,870 head, of which bullocks accounted for 15,244 head, compared to 15,686 head in the kill of the previous week.