Steadier trade for cull cows
The top price paid for R grade cows showed a gain of 2p/lb at a mean of 82p/lb paid by Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff for R4H cows, while the top price for O4 cows was 74p/lb at AIBP, Clones but the top price for poorer carcasses was back 1p/lb with the highest price for P+3 cows 72p/lb at Kepak, Clonee.
The decline in prices for bullocks and heifers eased with the mean for R4L down 5c/kg (1.8p/lb). The average paid by the major processing groups eased by 1.5p/lb to 2p/lb.
The national average for R4L bullocks was 253c/kg (90.5p/lb) with the margin between highest and lowest narrowing. Donegal Meats and Euro Foods paid a mean of 92p/lb with AIBP at Waterford, Exel at Kilbeggan, Meadow Meats Rathdowney and Slaney Meats, Bunclody all paying an average of 91p/lb.
The top price for O4L bullocks was 87p/lb at Donegal and Dawn Ballaghadereen against a national average of 86p/lb.
Heifer prices were slightly stronger than the bullocks at an average of 91.2p/lb for R4L. With the exception of 103p/lb for premium contract animals at Kepak, Clonee, Meadow Meats paid the highest average for R4L at 95p/lb.
AIBP at Nenagh, Slaney Meats and Donegal Meats paid an average of 92p/lb and slightly less at Exel, Kilbeggan, Jennings of Ballinrobe and Dawn Meats at Ballaghadereen.
The national average for O4L heifers was 86p/lb. Kepak at Clonee paid an average of 92p/lb, Jennings of Ballinrobe at an average of 91p/lb - the same price as R grade - and Meadow Meats, Dawn at Ballaghadereen, AIBP, Nenagh, Kepak, Watergrasshill and Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff all paying an average of 91p/lb.
