October 21, 2004

Beef Prices Continue To Tumble in Ireland

The fall in beef prices continued at the factories in Ireland last week. An average of almost 1p/lb was chipped off the return to producers, bringing prices to their lowest in 2004.

The national average for R3 bullocks dropped to marginally under 87p/lb, with R3 heifers holding just above 87p/lb. Meanwhile the average for O3 grades fell short of 82p/lb for the bullocks and 1p/lb less for heifers.

For R3 bullocks, AIBP Group averaged 86.6p/lb, down 1p/lb; Dawn Group down 1.3p/lb at 86.6p/lb; and Kepak Group down 0.6p/lb at 86.4p/lb.

However there are signs from the trade this week that prices may have bottomed out for the season.