Opinion is divided on the continuation of factory protests and blockades outside a number of of factories. Protesters in many centres are rejecting the deal negotiated over the weekend.

However, there is growing frustration from farmers looking to get cattle killed, with a significant backlog developing and growing numbers of animals going out-of-spec.

Dual producers in the west of the country looking to move stock are being hit on the double, with sheep prevented from entering Kepak Athleague and Dawn Ballyhaunis.

Throughput

If a solution is not agreed, this week’s kill will remain at a very low level, with throughput in the last seven weeks running in the region of 70,000 head lower than the corresponding period in 2018.

There is a handful of factories processing, with prices unchanged.

Steers are trading on a base of €3.45/kg to €3.50/kg, with heifers trading on a base of €3.55/kg on average.

Static bulls

Bull prices are static, with low numbers being processed.

U grades range from €3.50/kg to €3.55/kg on average, while R grades are moving from €3.40/kg to €3.50/kg. O grade bulls are meeting a more varied trade, with prices starting at €3.15/kg and rising to a top of €3.30/kg to €3.35/kg.

Cow prices are steady, with prices ranging from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg for P+3 grades and €2.95/kg to €3.05/kg for O grades.

R grades are trading from €3.00/kg at the lower end of the market to €3.20/kg for heavy well-conformed cows.

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