Beef prices continue upward spiral
Almost two-thirds of the factories paid an average of 97p/lb or better for R3 bullocks for last week’s kill, an improvement of 1p/lb, as the rate of increase in prices accelerated, driven by scarce supplies and strong demand.
Of the major processing chains, AIBP and Kepak paid an average of 1p/lb more for R3 bullocks, and Dawn Group paid just short of 1p/lb more than the previous week. most of the factories within each of the groups have now slipped to the lower half of the league on price with AIBP and Dawn Groups paying less than the national average.
Carrigans of Donegal led the field on price for R3 bullocks paying an average of 102p/lb, followed by Liffey Meats at Ballyjamesduff, AIBP at Clones and Kepak at Clonee, paying an average of 99p/lb, Bergins of Moyvalley Meats, Co Kildare at 98p/lb a shade ahead of Exel Meats at Kilbeggan and the sister plant, Newgrange Meats, Navan. The top price for O3 bullocks was 97p/lb at Duffy’s of Gort against a national average of 95p/lb.
Carrigans and Kepak at Clonee paid 100p/lb for R3 heifers, ahead of AIBP at Clones, and Liffey Meats at Ballyjamesduff paying an average of over 98p/lb followed by Bergins, Jennings and Dawn at Ballaghadereen between 97.9 and 97.6p/lb.
Cull cow prices have also pushed to record levels at over 85p/lb for the top cows last week. Kepak at Clonee led the trade for cows paying an average of 85.1p/lb for R4H and 84.5p/lb for O4H. The top price for P grade was 82.3p/lb for P+4L at Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff.
