Light kill of cattle at factories

Marts: There was a very light kill of cattle at the factories last week for the first week of post-premia slaughtering with both farmers and factories adopting a wait and see approach on price.

There was a total of 1,653 bullocks slaughtered out of a total factory kill of 5,906 head and, as a result, the limited availability of prices is not widespread enough to base any judgment on how the trade is shaping for the beginning of 2005.

Farmer pay sheet returns for R4L (base price under the new grid pay system) were available to the department from a total of six factories with an average of 264c/kg (94p/lb) paid. Donegal Meats (Carrigans) paid an average of 278c/kg (99.6p/lb) at the top of the league. They were followed by Slaney Meats, Bunclody, paying an average of 272c/kg (97.4p/lb) and Meadow Meats, Rathdowney, paying an average of 264c/kg (94.3p/lb) Dawn Meats, Midleton, Kepak, Clonee, and AIBP, Waterford each paid an average of 268c/kg (92.2p/lb). Prices for O4L bullocks were only available from Slaney Meats, where an average of 267c/kg (91.8p/lb) was paid, and AIBP, Waterford where the average was 246c/kg (87.6p/lb),