Irish beef prices below average

Marts: The average price paid for beef during the 12-month period of 2005 increased at a lower rate in Ireland than most of the beef-producing countries.

The returns for the year show the average price paid to producers for R3 male beef was 4% higher than 2004, but that was only slightly more than 50% of the average price increase achieved in 10 competing member states.

The largest increases were in Germany, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, with Northern Ireland and Britain - where prices were lower than 2004 - the only regions recording a lower price gain than the Republic.