The long-held suspicions of farmers that factories do not compete on price for beef cattle have been supported by a major report. The report, commissioned by the IFA, found:

  • Weak competition among factories that target particular categories and don’t compete for other types.
  • That factory feedlots are used to dampen demand and prices when cattle off farms are scarce or in times of high demand.
  • Concerns about the proposed purchase into Slaney Foods by Larry Goodman’s ABP, which it said would reduce competition in the southeast. The deal could also affect rendering, in which Slaney operates. ABP is a major renderer across the UK and Ireland.

    • Two factors help account for higher beef cattle prices in the UK – a greater number of smaller beef factories and 20% of finished cattle sold at marts.

    Listen to an interview with IFA president Joe Healy and report author Dr Pat McCoughlan in our podcast below:

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