Beef prices continue to rise

Beef prices continue to rise this week, as the base price for steers reached €3.60/kg and heifers ranged between €3.60-€3.70/kg.

Last week, factories were paying €3.50-€3.55/kg for steers and €3.60/kg for heifers, with reports suggesting some were paying 5% higher.

Cull cow prices remained much the same, with €2.80 being paid for P-grade cows and €2.90 for O-grade.

Young bull prices ranged between €3.60-€3.65/kg for R and U-grade animals, rising from €3.45-€3.60 during the previous week.

Beef kill

Figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s database show that last week’s beef kill stood at 26,911 (including 74 calves).

• Young bulls: 2,561;
• Bulls: 654;
• Steers: 10,525;
• Cows: 5,755;
• Heifers: 7,342;
• Veal: 74.

Throughput in recent weeks: 

• Week commencing May 4^th – 25,947 (including 413 calves);
• Week commencing April 27th – 25,964 (including 309 calves);
• Week commencing April 20th – 25,602 calves (including 473 calves);
• Week commencing April 13th – 25,225 (including 739 calves);
• Week commencing April 6th – 27,124 (including 418 calves);
• Week commencing March 30th – 30,731 (including 1427);
• Week commencing March 23rd – 35,607 (including 2,834 calves);
• Week commencing March 16th – 37,898 (including 3,434 calves);
• Week commencing March 9th – 38,957 (including 3,277 calves).