Bullock prices continue to rise

Marts: The upward move in the average paid for R4L bullocks continued with a gain of 1c/kg, with a meagre half of 1c/kg gain in the overall average for R4L heifers last week.

Most notable feature of the trade from the farmer paysheet returns was a drop of 2c/kg in the top price paid for R4L bullocks, which reduced the highest paying factory to an average of less than 108p/lb with the margin reduced to just over 1p/lb above the overall average.

Prices to producers in Munster continued to trail the rest of the country with several southern factories buying R4L bullocks for an average of fractions over 105p/lb which was almost 2p/lb under the national average.

The overall average for R4L bullocks was 106.7p/lb with the top price of just under 108p/lb paid by Euro Farm Foods, Duleek. Jennings (Ballinrobe), Kepak (Clonee) and Liffeys (Ballyjamesduff) averaged slightly less with a further nine factories paying just over 107p/lb. The overall average for O4L was 104p/lb with many individual factories paying 105p-106p/lb.

The group average for AIBP increased by 0.5p/lb to 106.2p/lb with a variation of up to 2p/lb between the averages paid at individual factories. Dawn Group paid an average of 106.3p/lb with averages at individual factories within the group ranging from 105p/lb to 107.3p/lb. The highest price for bullocks was 110p/lb for U grade at Slaney Meats.

Heifer prices mirrored the bullocks at an average just shy of 107p/lb for R4L, with a top price of 109p/lb at Kepak (Clonee), and O3 averaging 104p/lb.

Tops for cows was 97p/lb (R3) at Ashbourne, almost 95p/lb for O grade at Liffeys and 93p/lb for P grade at Newgrange. Dawn (Ballyhaunis) and Kepak (Clonee) were also strong on price.