Beef prices bottom out for season

Marts: Beef prices at the factories have bottomed out for the season with the first week of stable prices for bullocks in more than two months, and a slight increase in heifer prices confirmed in the pay sheet returns for last week.

The national average for R3 bullocks was unchanged at a fraction under 87p/lb, and prices paid for R3 heifers showed a marginal increase at an average of 87.6p/lb. Some prices paid for O3 bullocks and heifers were stronger than the previous week.

At the upper end of the scale, Carrigans of Donegal continued to lead the field for R3 bullocks paying an average of 91p/lb. Jennings of Ballinrobe averaged 89.6p/lb, with Slaney Meats, Bunclody, Dawn Meats at Midleton, and Kepak at Watergrasshill each paying a shade under 88p/lb factory average. AIBP Group, Dawn Group and Kepak Group paid averages of 86.6p/lb, 86.3p/lb and 86.2p/lb respectively - unchanged.Prices paid for O3 bullocks averaged just over 82p/lb. Jennings of Ballinrobe were well ahead at an average of almost 89p/lb and Carrigans were also strong at 87p/lb.