Last week’s 4,369 head reduction in the beef kill, to 33,064 head, is ramping up the pressure on factories to increase prices paid to beef finishers.

Factories have been resolute in their stance on prices in recent weeks and have not let base prices exceed €3.80/kg for steers and €3.90/kg for heifers.

Their resolve is likely to be tested to the limit in the coming week as factories try to build supplies for the Christmas trade.

IFA livestock chair Angus Woods said beef finishers should be digging in and demanding higher prices.

“With grass cattle now gone, the Christmas market demand is in full swing and with factories trying to buy cattle out of sheds, farmers should be demanding a new minimum base price of €4/kg”.

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