Beef prices keep heading upward

Beef prices continued a gradual upward trend at the factories last week with gains of 1-3 cent/kg in the average price paid although the top price paid for bullocks slipped by 2 cent/kg and the peak for R grade heifers was back by the same amount.

But 109p/lb average was exceeded for U grade bullocks at Slaney Meats, Bunclody - the highest 2006 bullock price.

The intake at the factories was slightly lower at 30,869 head, bullocks accounting for 14,500, similar to the previous week, but 3,000 head down on the same week last year. The supply of heifers was down 1,100 head on the previous week at 8,363, but 2,000 head higher than the same week in 2005.

An average of just under 106p/lb was paid for R4L bullocks and the same for R4L heifers the bullock prices gaining 2 cent/kg and an improvement of 1 cent/kg in the heifer price.

Donegal Meats and Dawn Meats topped for the bullocks, both paying an average of 107p/lb, back 0.5p/lb on the previous week at Donegal and an improvement of over 2p/lb at the Dawn plant.