Concerns are growing ahead of autumn weanling sales, with factory prices for young bulls slashed.
Factory beef prices have dropped sharply again this week, with young bulls particularly hit.
As little as €3.50/kg is being offered for bulls under 16 months.
On a typical 390kg carcase, this means young bulls are worth up to €200 per head less than they were at this time last year. Steers are being quoted at €3.60/kg and heifers at €3.70/kg. This is despite UK retail prices for beef being higher than last year.
It will be a real kick in the teeth for our top-quality weanling suppliers if they don’t get rewarded for their suckler-bred stock
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a number of factories have this week warned bull beef producers against feeding bulls next spring.
Carrigallen Mart manager Helen Kells told the Irish Farmers Journal that she is worried ahead of autumn sales and has already seen farmers take a cautious approach to bulls for autumn finishing.
“It will be a real kick in the teeth for our top-quality weanling suppliers if they don’t get rewarded for their suckler-bred stock.”
Meanwhile, it appears that farmers are the only ones taking a hit on price. In Britain, where the vast majority of Irish beef is sold, supermarket prices for many cuts of beef are up on last year. Steak is retailing at 31p/kg (34c/kg) more than it was last year at £22.32/kg (€24.80/kg), while Irish retail prices are marginally lower than this time last year.
Read more
Factories hit a new low with young bull quotes of €3.55/kg
Watch: angry farmers join Beef Plan Movement protest at Dáil
Farmers need ‘full transparency’ on meat industry – Beef Plan
Concerns are growing ahead of autumn weanling sales, with factory prices for young bulls slashed.
Factory beef prices have dropped sharply again this week, with young bulls particularly hit.
As little as €3.50/kg is being offered for bulls under 16 months.
On a typical 390kg carcase, this means young bulls are worth up to €200 per head less than they were at this time last year. Steers are being quoted at €3.60/kg and heifers at €3.70/kg. This is despite UK retail prices for beef being higher than last year.
It will be a real kick in the teeth for our top-quality weanling suppliers if they don’t get rewarded for their suckler-bred stock
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a number of factories have this week warned bull beef producers against feeding bulls next spring.
Carrigallen Mart manager Helen Kells told the Irish Farmers Journal that she is worried ahead of autumn sales and has already seen farmers take a cautious approach to bulls for autumn finishing.
“It will be a real kick in the teeth for our top-quality weanling suppliers if they don’t get rewarded for their suckler-bred stock.”
Meanwhile, it appears that farmers are the only ones taking a hit on price. In Britain, where the vast majority of Irish beef is sold, supermarket prices for many cuts of beef are up on last year. Steak is retailing at 31p/kg (34c/kg) more than it was last year at £22.32/kg (€24.80/kg), while Irish retail prices are marginally lower than this time last year.
Read more
Factories hit a new low with young bull quotes of €3.55/kg
Watch: angry farmers join Beef Plan Movement protest at Dáil
Farmers need ‘full transparency’ on meat industry – Beef Plan
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