Gradual recovery evident in improved price levels

Beef prices at the factories continue to gradually improve, edging up a few more cents/kg this week, while the supply of cattle continues at a record high level.

Most processors have quoted up to 5 cents/kg more for stock this week, bringing the aggregate improvement over recent weeks to around 25 cents/kg, equivalent to around €90/head, representing a long overdue but gradual recovery, from the point of view of farmers.

It is obvious that the outpouring of anger by farmers over the past month, led by the IFA, has got the message home to processors that tolerance of low beef prices had been exhausted.