New quality beef pricing offers 28c per kg extra

“SUBSTANTIALLY better rewards for quality cattle” were promised by beef processors last Monday, as a quality payment system (QPS) was introduced, effective immediately.

Quality differentials are now based on meat yield, and a 6c/kg (€21 per head) bonus for cattle aged under 30 months from quality assured farms in the Beef Quality Assurance Scheme has also been introduced.

According to processors, QPS has increased the quality differential between an O and U grade steer from about 20c to 48c/kg.