Farmers dig in against low factory beef prices
The IFA beef spokesman said farmers are not prepared to part with cattle at the lower quoted base prices of €4.10 on steers and €4.15 on heifers. They are also monitoring the progress of exporters and shippers seeking to develop the trade to North Africa.
“Over the weekend factories had to part with €4.15 base to get steers and €4.20 on heifers,” said Mr Burns. He said cattle supplies in 2015 will be back 120,000 to 150,000 head, and urged farmers to dig in hard on price and resist the factory pressure.
Henry Burns said the live export trade is increasing rapidly with a 7,241 head exported in the week ending March 1. He said calf exports have increased significantly in the last week, accounting for over 66% or 4,822 head. Exports of adult cattle were 1,743 head last week with weanlings and stores totalling 326 and 350 head.
Mr Burns said there were 2,724 head of calves exported to the Netherlands and 1,440 head to Spain. 1,640 cattle went to the North, 642 to France, 351 to Britain, 212 head to Italy, 166 to Tunisia, and 66 to Germany.
