Beef producers secure steady prices
Factory pay-sheet returns show the average price paid for R3 bullocks and heifers held virtually unchanged from the previous week, against pressure from processors to get prices back by up to 3 cent/kg (1p/lb).
Supplies cost slightly more at some factories, but a cross check on a range of factories shows variations in average prices from the previous week, were very slight. While the supply of bullocks increased by a further 1,700, the average paid for R3 bullocks remained rock steady.
The average price paid for R3 bullocks by factories in the AIBP, Dawn and Kepak groups was unchanged. The average for R3 bullocks across all factories was 86.5p/lb with three quarters of the processors paying an average of 86p/lb or better and seven factories paying an average of 87p/lb or higher. They were Carrigans, Exel, Liffey's, Newgrange, Slaney, Kepak at Clonee and AIBP at Clones. The average price paid for O3 bullocks was a strong 82.5p/lb.
Heifer prices continued slightly ahead of the bullocks at an average of just over 87p/lb for R3 grade with more than half those processing heifers paying the average or better. Carrigan's of Donegal and AIBP at Waterford paid an average of more than 90p/lb. Exel at Kilbeggan paid an average of over 89p/lb. The average for O3 heifers was 81.5p/lb - lower than the average for the same grade bullock by 1p/lb.
Cow prices continue to be strong.
Martin Ryan
