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There is as much as an €80/t difference in what suckler farmers are paying for weanling feed, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.
A survey of merchants and co-ops was carried out this week to see what farmers are being charged for feed coming into the peak autumn weanling sale season.
The standard crunch used contained from 15% to 17% crude protein.
The survey revealed a significant range of €82/t between the cheapest and most expensive options.
The cheapest price came in the east, with €218/t quoted in Meath, while the most expensive price came in Donegal, with €300/t quoted.
The average price of weanling crunch quoted was €268/t across Ireland.
Connacht turned out to be the most expensive province to purchase weanling crunch, with an average price quoted at €285/t. Leinster is quoted as the cheapest place to purchase weanling crunch at €238/t.
Ingredients in weanling crunch can vary, but a typical ration should contain high levels of cereals such as rolled barley, maize and wheat.
The ration should also contain high-quality protein such as soya bean, maize gluten and distiller grains.
Weanling prices running €50 ahead of last year
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