Slight slippage in factory prices

THERE was further slight slippage in the prices paid by factories to producers for beef last week with the averages down by around 0.5p/lb to 1p/lb and the fall registering across the scale of grades and factories from the highest paying to the weakest payers.

The kill for the short week - with the national holiday on Monday - was down 8,000 head on the previous week, but the drop in throughput did not benefit prices to producers according to the pay sheet returns, except for the trade in cows which is holding very firm at up to 68p/lb.

The overall average price paid for R3 bullocks dropped under 85p/lb at 237c/kg within a range from 87p/lb back to 83p/lb at the individual factories with Carrigans of Donegal the leaders on price. Exel at Kilbeggan and Dawn Meats at Ballaghadereen paid over 86p/lb with Newgrange Meats, at Navan, Liffey Meats at Ballyjamesduff, Dawn Meats at Waterford and Jennings of Ballinrobe all paying over 85p/lb.

Of the three major players in the processing sector AIBP group averaged 84p/lb across their six factories with a variation of up to 1p/lb between the individual plants, while the five plants in the Dawn Group paid an average of 85p/lb and Kepak group paid just over 84p/lb average. The average of O3 bullocks was 226c/kg (80.7p/lb).

Average factory prices for R3 heifers ranged 258-230c/kg (92p-82p/lb) with Meadow Meats, Rathdowney the leaders, followed by Exel at Kilbeggan, Kepak at Clonee, Liffey Meats, AIBP plants at Nenagh and Bandon and Carrigans of Donegal all on 86p/lb or better. The average for O3 heifers fell just under 80p/lb.

Ashbourne Meats, Roscrea paid an average of 68p/lb for O4H cows and Fair Oak, Bagenalstown, paid the same price for O3 grade while the best price for P grade was 67p/lb at Fair Oak, Bagenalstown.