Beef Prices Quoted Differ From Prices Paid
IRELAND - Livestock Price Coordinator for the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), John Cleary, has said that games are being played by factories this week as prices being quoted are differing greatly from prices being paid out despite a real need for top quality cattle.
16 August 2011
2 minute read
For a good mix of steers, the price being quoted is €3.55 - 60/kg but there are reports of as much as €3.65 - €3.70/kg being paid out for a good mix.
Heifers are trading well and the price being quoted is €3.65 with an extra 0.5c to 0.10c available on top of base prices for some cattle.
For a mix of U and R grade bulls, the going price is €3.65 - €3.70/kg. Cows are continuing to trade well and for a mix of P and U grades the prices are €3.00/kg up to €3.40/kg. This is the same as last week’s quote.
On this week’s trade, Mr Cleary said: “There is a real difference in prices this week on what’s being quoted and what’s actually available. From what I’m hearing on the ground is that factories are trying to influence the trade for later in the year so they are pulling quoted prices now in August."
"However, there is a real shortage of prime cattle in the factories across the country. From what’s being said in factories is that only the big farmers are getting the best prices."
"The farmer that’s coming in with a load or half load of animals or that is only coming in a with a few cattle every few months isn’t getting anything like the prices that are being given to the big sellers. If a farmer is sure of the quality of their animal then they need to push hard for better prices as they are available and factories are paying higher than what’s being quoted.”
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