Beef prices continue to ease back at factories
Average prices for all grades of animals dropped by 3 cent/kg (1p/lb) while the higher prices being paid the previous week dropped by 6-12 cent/kg (2p-4p/lb) for O grade bullocks and heifers, which were the hardest hit.
The throughput of bullocks at the factories was back by 1,700 head on the previous week, but the push to get supplies for the Christmas orders was not present, leading to the drop in prices, despite the lower level of supplies on offer.
Analysis of the official returns indicate that up to 90p/lb flat was paid for R/O grade bullocks. While the top factory average for R grade heifers was 91.5p/lb the average for O grade was back to 85p/lb.
The mix of over-age cattle at the lower prices on offer are still effecting the average at some factories and making it more difficult to extract the true prices for the categories.
Prices with the AIBP group of factories averaged 88p/lb or slightly better for R3 bullocks at Cahir, Nenagh and Waterford. In the Kepak Group an average of 90p/lb was paid for the same grade at Watergrasshill and in the Dawn Group the average at Midleton was 86p/lb.
In general, the prices for R3 bullocks averaged 84p/lb a drop of 1p/lb across all factories, with the highest factory average of just over 90p/lb paid at Kepak, Watergrasshill, just ahead of Exel at Kilbeggan and the sister plant Newgrange at Navan, Duffy's of Gort and three AIBP plants, Nenagh, Cahir and Waterford, all in the top seven for the week. The lowest factory average was 221 cent/kg (79p/lb) which was a poor price for over-age cattle.
The average for R3 heifers was 87p/lb. The highest factory average was 91.5p/lb at Kepak, Clonee, followed by Exel, Kilbeggan and Dawn Meats, Waterford.
Four factories in the AIBP Group, Waterford, Cahir, Nenagh and Clones paid 88p/lb or better.
