Beef price increase slows as kill peaks

Marts: Having reached the benchmark of 100p/lb for R grade cattle, beef prices at the factories achieved very little gain last week as the kill reached a seasonal peak.

The improvement in average prices paid by the processors was limited to 1 cent/kg with the factories across the country paying an average of 100p/lb for R4L grade bullocks and heifers and the best and the worst a fraction more or less than the benchmark of 100p/lb as the surge forward in prices slowed.

The total kill was over 44,000 head which was a seasonal high. Of this, bullocks accounted for almost 21,000 head, a very strong supply for this time of the year as producers who had retained cattle for the Christmas kill realised that the peak for the end of year had been reached and achieved substantial gains on cattle which had been retained from the October period of low prices.

For the R4L bullocks Donegal Meats were marginally ahead at an average of 101.5p/lb, AIBP at Bandon, and the Slaney plants at Bunclody an Freshford paying an average of 100.4p/lb. Overall 12 factories paid 100p/lb or better and the remainder came in at just under the 100p/lb. The average for O4L bullocks was just short of 98p/lb.

Heifer prices were slightly stronger than the bullocks at the top of the market, Kepak at Clonee paid an average of 104.7p/lb, AIBP at Bandon 104p/lb and Slaney Meats at Bunclody 101.3p/lb. At Donegal Meats the average was 100.7p/lb and 100.4p/lb at Dawn Meats, Waterford, AIBP at Nenagh and Clones, and Jennings of Ballinrobe.

The national average paid for O4L heifers was 97.5p/lb with a top price of 100.3p/lb at Jennings of Ballinrobe.

Prices for cull cows gained at least 2p/lb at the top with Euro Farm Foods paying an average of 87p/lb for R5 and over 83p/lb average for O4H. The best P grade prices was 81p/lb for P+3 at Kepak, Clonee.