Teagasc warns of tight beef profits

FIGURES published by Teagasc at the National Ploughing Championships yesterday show that profit prospects for beef over the coming winter will continue to be tight.

Bernard Smyth, beef adviser with Teagasc, said a 500kg continental steer costing 800 today will need to be to be sold at 250c/kg (90p/lb) carcass weight next spring in order to have a profit of 70.

“Farmers who are paying up to 850 at present for these animals will be operating on a financial tightrope,” he said.