Cow beef the best bet at factories
The farmer paysheet returns from the factories for last week’s kill has shown that over 83p/lb was paid for R grade cull cows at Ashbourne Meats, Roscrea, while some factories paid just over 87p/lb for R3 grade heifers, narrowing the margin between cow beef and prime heifer beef to its lowest-ever. The top price for cows was 8p/lb under the national average paid for R3 heifers at 91p/lb.
For the same week in 2003 there was a difference of 17p/lb between the top price paid for R grade cows and the national average for R3 grade heifers - more than double the present margin - and while suppliers of cull cows are not going to complain about the higher price, finishers of beef heifers and bullocks are baffled as to why beef prices are being slashed.
There was a further drop of 1p/lb for bullocks and heifers last week, maintaining the consistent weekly downward slide.
The national average for R3 bullocks fell to 91p/lb. Carrigans paid the top price at an average of 94p/lb, well ahead of the next highest, AIBP at Nenagh, at 91.8p/lb, and a further 16 factories, paying between 91p/lb and 91.5p/lb.
The national average for O3 bullocks fell to 86.6p/lb with less than a third of the factories paying 87p/lb.
Heifer prices were marginally higher than the bullocks, with an average of 91.3p/lb for R3.
The highest average was 96p/lb at Kepak, Clonee, where the kill include premium price contract supplies which boosted the average.
Meadow Meats paid an average of 93p/lb.
Kepak at Clonee were also the best for O grade cows at 76p/lb for O4L.
