Tight cattle supplies drives factory competition

Price disparencies can add up to in excess of €3,000 on the return to the supplier for a typical load of cattle, indicating how demand and competition for stock are driving the trade

Processors are coming under severe pressure to compete for the available supplies and are being forced to lift prices by 5–10c/kg week-on-week.

Beef prices at the factories are continuing to increase week-on-week, driven by demand far exceeding the supply of finished animals available to meet market demand.

Analysis of factory prices being paid, as reported weekly by the Department of Agriculture, reveals a widening difference of up to 40c/kg between factories for similar-grade animals in recent weeks.