Marts: More than one in three bullocks supplied to Donegal Meats is grading R3, the highest ratio at any factory in the country for the first half of 2005.

Marts: Beef prices have continued the upward spiral adding a further 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) to pay a top price of 102p/lb for R3 grade bullocks last week.

Marts: A slippage in beef prices at the factories has been confirmed in the farmer pay-sheet returns for last week’s increased kill at the plants.

Beef heifers stayed firm at the factories, with improved prices for quality stock, in last week’s kill at the processing centres, while bullock prices were generally easier.