Beef prices holding but heavy rain takes a toll

Steers Heifers Cull Cows Young Bulls BEEF prices at factories this week began to take shape during the first few days of the month with factory agent rumours suggesting beef would be back another 5c/kg to €3.80/ kg for bullocks and €3.90/kg for heifers in certain areas.

This “prediction” wasn’t quite universal though as one agent in the south east on Friday said the numbers required weren’t there just yet to make that scenario work.

It must be remembered that, until recently, east Munster and parts of Leinster have largely avoided the heavy downpours of rain seen in other areas and that by in large ground conditions here remain good.

However, by yesterday morning, while Tipperary had drowned itself in champagne, the rest of us woke up to discover that we’d just been drowned.

No agent or finisher commenting yesterday could quote anything above those €3.80/3.90 figures as factory bosses no doubt waited to see how the day played out and whether ground conditions would force stock off the land. It’s not simple to call it. There is no doubt that those north of a line roughly from Youghal to Ardee are in a weaker position due to all the rain.

However, it’s still very early in September, the forecast for the week could see more grass grow than at any other time during the year and the majority of stock that will be killed up until Wednesday morning were no doubt bought last week at those higher €3.85/3.95/kg prices.

Another point is that UK prices continue to rise.

They were up 3p/kg last week with Angus Woods of IFA pointing out that there would have been no cattle in the factory lairages yesterday morning if they had tried to buy them at €3.80/3.90/kg last week.

Prices for cows remain largely unchanged at average quotes of €3.25/kg for R’s, €3.10/kg for O’s with P+’s on €3.00/kg with possibly more available in certain circumstances.

Bulls are believed to fall this week in line with the proposed decline in bullock and heifer prices.

For example, a base of €3.80/ kg for those going on the grid under sixteen months while those over sixteen move between €3.90/kg for U’s back to €3.70/kg for O’s with R’s on €3.80/kg some plants are quoting five cents less.

Yet last week’s base of €3.85/ kg for those going on the grid was beaten out the door by some suppliers who secured closer to €3.90/kg as their base.

A visit to a well known British based local supermarket last week also presented an opportunity to ask questions of management in relation to advertising and food miles.

The shelf advertisement in the pre-packed red meat section declared, “Locally sourced in Ireland”. A shamrock was also prominently displayed.

When questioned on how “local” the various meats, management said the company “operates a thirty two county all Ireland food policy” and that products may have spent time on both sides of the border at grazing, slaughtering, cutting or packaging stages.

After researching the various codes on the packaging it appears, on its many journeys north and south, the “locally sourced” beef had travelled 597/ km or 371 miles before it ended up on that shelf in Clonmel.