Shortage of beef animals underpins prices

A hard sell by producers of beef animals maintained the average price at the factories, while individual factories paid up to 1p/lb more for R grade bullocks in a tight supply situation for the post-Easter trade.

Although the supply of bullocks to the factories last week was up 500 head on the previous week - at 15,774 head - throughput was down 1,000 head on the same week last year, and aided by good export demand for beef for restocking post-Easter led to a tight supply situation at the processors to the benefit of producers.

The group average for R4L bullocks at AIBP was up 0.5p/lb with individual factory averages showing a gain of 1p/lb at Nenagh - where an average of 105p/lb was paid - and at Bandon - average 103.6p/lb - and slightly less at Cahir where the average was a whisker under 104p/lb.