Beef price of 85p/lb hard to get at factory level

THERE was an unexpected twist to the farmer battle for higher prices for beef at the factories when processing resumed yesterday following the lifting of the protest action on the anticipation of an improvement in prices to producers.

An improvement of up to 2p/lb for R grade cattle was quoted to farmers by AIBP bringing the price to 238 cents/kg (85p/lb) at the factories yesterday, but producers' anticipation of a higher return was quickly turned into anger when they experienced difficulty in booking in cattle at the higher price which was not available at the other factories.

Many were frustrated when they were told that the requirements for the week had been booked out and they could not be given a slaughter date. The price being offered for O grade cattle was similar to other factories at 224 cents/kg (80p/lb).