No sign yet of big price changes

ALTHOUGH supplies of cattle to the factories have increased slightly over the past week, there was no easing of the pressure on factories to maintain prices this week, with some of the processors having to pay slightly more for supplies.

The first cattle off the grass are reported to be coming into the factories in the south this week, which has made it a little easier for processors to get sufficient supplies, but the supply situation remained very tight up country.

The southern factories are generally quoting 98p/lb for R grade steers and some are paying a bit more.

In the east, Slaney Meats at Bunclody quoted 99p/lb for Rs, and both Excel at Kilbeggan and Newgrange at Navan were quoting 99p/lb.

Further north, there was 100p/lb quoted by Donegal Meats for R3 steers and 97p/lb for R4.

While factories in the south were getting a mix of the last of the shed cattle and the first of the supply off grass this week, the processors in the midlands and further north reckoned that the first of the grass cattle will not be available for another fortnight at least.

The grass finishers are taking advantage of the current high price, fearing that any significant increase in supply will result in downward pressure on price.

It is hard to see any major change in the price for another week or two at the earliest, because numbers of grass finished cattle will remain light until June, at least.

The price gap between R and O grades has narrowed to 2p/lb.

The Os are 97 or 96p/lb and there is quite a bit of flat price dealing with the factories for good quality cattle.

The kill last week was 28,493, increased from 27,733 the previous week.

Steers accounted for 13,310, showing an increase of just over 100 head on the previous week.

There is still a very good trade for cull cows at the factories. They are being quoted at up to 84p/lb for the heavy cows, but they are making up to 86p/lb at some of the factories, with prices ranging back to 82p/lb for lighter animals.

In the marts, the numbers of stock on offer have started to ease back this week, but there is very little change in the prices being paid for the heavy double punched animals and the forward single punched.

Dungarvan Mart reported a very high priced sale on Monday for a smaller supply.

Punched out bullocks made up to €340 over €1/kg, and single punched up to €400 over. At Kilmallock, the double punched made up to €420 over, and single punched up to €490 over. There was also a very strong heifer trade with forward beef and store heifers making up to €280 over.