More factories paying under 90p/lb

There was an increase in the number of factories which paid less than 90p/lb (252 cent/kg) for cattle last week, with heifers worst hit, while the pace of drop in price for R grade animals eased.

Seven factories dropped the average paid for O3 grade heifers below 90p/lb for last week’s kill, according to the official farmer pay sheet returns for the week, but only two factories breached the 90p/lb benchmark on price for O3 grade bullocks.

Charleville Foods, AIBP at Clones and Waterford, Kildare Chilling, Kepak at Athleague, Liffey Meats at Ballyjamesduff, and Dawn Meats at Ballyhaunis all paid an average of less than 90p/lb (incl VAT) for O3 heifers according to the Department of Agriculture returns, while AIBP at Rathkeale and Kepak at Athleague paid average of less than 90p/lb for O3 grade bullocks, the pay sheet returns confirmed.