BSE test cost transfer delayed
The Enfer test is presently required to be carried out on all carcasses of animals over 30 months being slaughtered for the food chain, so as to confirm no presence of BSE. The cost of carrying out the test is currently at 23/head.
As part of the restriction on expenditure in farming by the Department of Agriculture, the cost of the test, which has been paid for by the department since it was introduced, was scheduled to transfer to factory/producer from early this month.
The Department of Agriculture will continue to pay for the carrying out of the test on cows slaughtered, and it is understood that working out the procedures for differentiating between heifers and cows at factory level has delayed the transfer.
However the Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the transfer is still going ahead and will take place within a few weeks. Factories are expected to pass it on directly to producers as an additional levy on the older cattle rather than adjust the price being paid to take account of the additional cost amounting to about 3p/lb.
Either way, it will have a direct impact on bullocks and heifers over 30 months going through the processing plants.
Presently, the number of overage cattle have reduced to a trickle and it is felt that the impact overall will not be enormous.
However, unless the pattern of production changes considerably to a much higher percentage of animals being slaughtered at a younger age, it will reduce returns significantly for the peak autumn kill and will have a knock-on effect on the plainer cattle going through the marts which are unlikely to be finished to beef at under 30 months.
The flavour of the week in the marts so far has been the forward store heifers and cows, both of which are meeting with a very strong trade.
Heifer prices were improved by 20/head at Athenry Mart yesterday where the heavy heifers made up to 245 over /kg one Charolais 515kg sold for 760 and a Limousin at 395kg made 605 in very strong demand with plenty of customers present. There was also a strong trade for cows, some of which made up to 65 over.
The store heifers at Fermoy Mart made up to 190 over /kg with a very good trade for the quality heifer.
At Ennis Mart, where there was a big sale of 640 weanling/yearlings, exporters dominated to a great extend for the middle run of heifers at 100-150 over.
However, they were outbid by farmers for the top quality heifers which made up to 190 over.
