Downward price slide easing
Farmer pay sheet returns from the factories showed R3 bullock prices dropped by an average of around 0.5p/lb and the average for R3 heifers was marginally higher than the week before.
However, the average for O3 grade was down 1p/lb for bullocks and over 2p/lb less was paid for O3 grade heifers, which overall showed that on the mix, the factories paid less for the intake than the previous week.
Prices for R3 bullocks averaged 95.5p/lb within a range of just under 100p/lb at Carrigans of Donegal to a low of 94.4p/lb average at one factory. AIBP at Clones Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff, Kepak at Clonee, Exel Meats, at Kilbeggan Dawn Meats at Ballaghadereen and Kildare Chilling were also among the top seven on average price. The country’s largest processors, AIBP Group dropped prices by an average of 1p/lb at 95.3p/lb.
Prices at Clones were unchanged, while the average price at Waterford dropped 2p/lb and prices were back an average of 1p/lb at the plants at Cahir, Nenagh and Rathkeale.
Dawn Group dropped a group average of 0.4p/lb at 95p/lb. The overall average for O3 bullocks was 91.6p/lb.
The national average for R3 heifers was 96.5p/lb, a clear 1p/lb ahead of the same grade in bullocks, the heifer price being boosted by over 100p/lb at Kepak, Clonee and at Carrigans and over 99p/lb at AIBP at Bandon.
The average for O3 heifers was 89.6p/lb, after a fall of more than 2p/lb. Galtee, Charleville paid the higher price for cows at 97p/lb for R4L and 77p/lb for O3. Ashbourne paid 74p/lb for P+4H.
