Further 1p/lb rise in price of cattle
One factory paid almost 104p/lb average for R3 bullocks last week and over 102p/lb was returned for O3’s as producers benefited from a general increase averaging 1p/lb for most grades of cattle, across all the factories. Heifer prices showed a corresponding increase with prices generally in line with those for the bullocks, but peaked at 0.5p/lb higher.
The bullock supply dropped to 9,000 head last week and, with keen competition for supplies, the processors faced a hard sell by producers and were forced to pay a June price, the equivalent of which they have not paid for a decade and a half.
The lowest paying factory paid over 100p/lb average for R3 bullocks last week, and less than one in four factories got supplies for an average of less than 101p/lb. Carrigan’s of Donegal continued to lead the field, paying an average of 103.8p/lb, while a further eight factories paid an average of over 102p/lb. A further sign of the strength of the market was the narrowing of the margin between R and O grades which reduced below 2p/lb. Duffy’s of Gort paid the highest average for O3 bullocks at 102p/lb average. Dawn Meats at Ballaghadereen, Jennings of Ballinrobe and Kildare Chilling averaged at 101p/lb or slightly better.
Kepak at Clonee and Carrigan’s both paid over 104p/lb for R3 heifers, while a string of factories paid over 102p/lb. Jennings and Duffy’s both paid 102p/lb average for O3 heifers, while AIBP at Cahir, and Waterford and Dawn at Waterford paid 100p/lb average.
Cull cows topped 90p/lb average for R5 at Bergins Moyvalley Meats, Co Kildare. AIBP at Clones paid over 88p/lb average for O4H cows.
