Increase in beef prices at factories

AN increase in the average prices for all grades of cattle was recorded at the country’s factories for last week — but the margin of increase was rarely more than 1p/lb.

Up to 86p/lb was paid for R3 bullocks at the top of the market and prices for R3 heifers reached within a fraction of 90p/lb at the upper end of the price league.

The increase in the kill of over 30 months cattle at low prices is continuing to mask the real prices which are being paid for young cattle.

Of some interest however is an analysis of four factories from the three largest groups in the country where only young cattle are being slaughtered.

This showed that last week the average for R/O grade showed that three of the four paid an average of less than 82p/lb with one factory recording an average of 83.3p/lb.

There was an increase of between one-third of a penny and 1p/lb showing in last weeks prices.

The highest average of the four factories was paid at the AIBP factory at Nenagh where a firm 85p/lb was paid for Rs and O grade prices ranged 80-81p/lb.

The average for heifers edged ahead of the bullocks last week by 2p/lb at 84p/lb for R3 with the highest factory average being paid by Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff at 89.4p/lb followed by Kepak at Clonee and Carrigans all paying an average of over 88p/lb. The average for O grade heifers was on a par with bullocks returns showing 78.8p/lb and 78.4p/lb respectively.

Meanwhile butchers lambs showed an increase of up to 3/head.