Huge prices for 450 to 600kg stores
The fall off in the supply of cattle to the plants appears to have ceased, with indicators from some areas of the country that numbers of cattle on offer to processors are increasing slightly.
Demand for beef on the continent has eased a little again, and the net result is that factories appeared less interested in paying much over quoted prices this week for cattle, and are, in effect, moving to reduce the cost of supplies.
Approaching mid April, it is very bad news for cattle farmers after one of their worst spring seasons in years, but the response of the processors is that while returns from the market place have held up, they are moving lesser volumes of beef than previous years.
Most of the factories quoted similar to last week for cattle when they re-opened on Tuesday. In the south, R grade stock were being quoted at 294 cents/kg (105p/lb), and 297 cents/kg (106p/lb) in the east, where there is another 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) on offer for heifers. There were early indications this week that the recent top-up on these quoted prices of at least 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) was becoming harder to attain.
In the midlands, 300 cents/kg (107p/lb) is on offer for Rs, and there are reports of a little over that being available in the north west, although the price gap between the north west and the midlands has narrowed in recent weeks. Prices on offer for O grade are ranging from 286 to 292 cents/kg (102 to 104p/lb).
In general, prices on offer for cows are tending a little easier this week. Up to 252 cents/kg (90p/lb) should still be attainable for good O and P graders, but more of the factories are trying to buy at 241 to 247 cents/kg (86p-88p/lb).
The talking point among farmers this week — apart from expressing disappointment with beef prices — has been the astronomical prices being paid for typical 450 to 600kg stores at the marts. Up to €540 over €1 per kg was paid for bullocks at Skibbereen Mart.
A similar peak was recorded at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, and up to €480 over at Kilmallock, where there was a huge sale of 2,800 head on Monday. They made up to €480 over at Birr on Monday.
The forward heifers fetched up to €430 over at Kilmallock, up to €415 over at Sixmilebridge, and €385 over at Birr.
