2 October 2009

2 minute read

Europe

Reports issued on 18 Sept 2009, indicate that the Price Differential for NI R4 grading steers with Scotland was 42.3p/kg and with South of England 22.3p/kg.  This equates to an average R4 grading steer worth almost £150/head more in Scotland and £80/head more in the South of England than an equivalent animal from a Northern Ireland farm.

Although the current exchange rate is favourable towards the NI beef industry, local producers have still to receive any real benefit according to the UFU. UFU Beef and Lamb Chairman William Taylor says, "here can be no justification for the current gap in prices paid for cattle in NI and those paid for cattle in GB. We have raised this issue for many years and have received many excuses but no answers.  Our beef prices have always been compared with those in the South of England but over the past three years we have seen that gap widening. Given this concerning trend, and in the absence of any improvement, we will have to re-think the marketing arrangements within the Northern Ireland beef industry."

He added; "The UFU plan to meet with the major retailers in the coming months to highlight our concerns with the current price differential between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and address the issue.In the meantime, I would encourage producers to market their cattle strongly and investigate all options including the live export of cattle."

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