Beef Prices Steady Despite Factory Tricks
IRELAND - Livestock Price Coordinator for the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), John Cleary, has said that August is proving to be a strange month for farmers as well as factories as shortages develop and factories are turning to the marts to fulfil quotas.
30 August 2011
2 minute read
For a good mix of steers, the price being quoted is €3.55 - 60/kg. Heifers are trading well and there has been a 0.5c increase from last week’s prices, heifers are €3.65 - €3.70/kg.
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 €3.10/kg up to €3.20/kg. Prices for the very top spec cows are going as high as €3.30/kg but a shortage of high end cows is very much evident now.
On this week’s trade, Mr Cleary said: “August is a strange time, factories are short of stock and have been trying to drive prices down but have been restricted from doing so due to the fact that there is a real shortage of prime cattle."
"August has traditionally been the month where the factories have set the agenda and price structure for the later months of the year but they have been restricted from doing so this due to real shortages. Farmers are busy with other actives in August and don’t have time for the factories so that is one reason for the shortage."
"From what I’m being told on the ground, factories are turning to mart rings to get cattle in and there has been a serious buzz around marts over the past three weeks as a result. Again, there is a real opportunity for the beef farmer to shop around for the best price. Press hard as the factories are often paying better than what they are quoting.”
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