Factory beef prices up by 2p/lb

Marts: There was a strong rise in beef prices at the factories last week, during which some processors paid up to 2.5p/lb more for R grade animals.

A number of processors paid an average of more than 88p/lb for R grade bullocks with the best paying factories returning even more for heifers, as the build up to the filling of the Christmas orders got under way.

The overall average increase of 1p/lb for bullocks and more than 1.5p/lb for heifers masked the real change in prices for the under 30 months animals, because of the percentage of lower priced over age cattle in the kill 39,313 for the week bringing down the average. Prices did reach the target of 90p/lb average for R bullocks at Carrigans of Donegal Meats and up to 91p/lb for R heifers at Kepak, Clonee - the only processors paying at that level.