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Factories need to increase the base price on beef, according to IFA president Joe Healy.
His statement comes as a result of rising cattle prices in the UK and Europe and the higher demand for the Christmas trade.
“The facts are during the month of October, factories pulled cattle prices by 3c to 5c/kg for prime cattle and 15c/kg for cows.
"However, prime cattle prices in the UK have stabilised and when the strength of sterling is accounted for, prices have risen by 10c to 13c/kg,” he said.
Young bulls
With young bull prices up 35c/kg in Italy, up 18c/kg in Spain and little or no change in Germany and France, Healy again called for the immediate publication of the Bord Bia beef price index.
“[The] IFA pushed hard for this index at the beef talks to keep the factories honest. It was agreed the index would be published from 16 September. We need it urgently.”
In a criticism of the factories that pulled prices on heifers recently, he accused the APB group of leading the charge in trying to pull the base price for heifers back down to the same level as steers.
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