Huge Factory Demand Sees Cow Price Rise
IRELAND - Livestock Price Coordinator for the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), John Cleary, has said that a huge demand for cows by factories this week has seen a strong rise in prices with other prices remaining steady.
5 October 2011
2 minute read
For a good mix of steers, the price being quoted is €3.50 – €3.55kg, no change from last week’s prices.
After three successive weeks of falling prices, heifers have returned to growth this week with a 0.5 ¢ increase to bring prices up to €3.65- €3.70/kg.
However, better prices are available that the ones being quoted. For a mix of U and R grade bulls, the going price is €3.60 - €3.65/kg, no change from last week.
Cows are the real winners this week with huge demand being noted all around the country for good quality cows. Prices for cows are ranging from €3.10 - €3.45/kg.
On this week’s trade, Mr Cleary said: “Prices are again very steady this week with only one exception in a huge jump in cow prices this week. Word on the ground is that the reason for the increase is mainly due to an increase in the manufacturing trade. Foodstuffs like school meals, especially in the UK are the main reason for the increase. This isn’t uncommon as we see a small bit of a surge like this around September/October every year when children have returned to school."
"Either way it’s great news for farmers, factories are desperately trying to fill quotas with cows and if they are short numbers then now is the time to bring cows to the factory and avail of good prices. It’s also most welcome to see a return to an increase in heifer prices. There had been a few weeks of drop in prices but an increase this week has also been linked to a scarcity of premium heifers on the factory floor.”
Sheep prices have been a mixed bag over the past number of weeks but it seems that lamb prices have bottomed out over the past number of weeks. Lambs are being quoted €4.60/kg while ewes are being quoted €2.80/kg.
Commentating on the sheep trade, John Cleary said: “Once a year we always see a bottoming out of factory lamb prices and I believe that we have reached that point now. Even the ICSA sheep chairman, Paul Brady, believes that the best option for farmers is to use the factories as prices have bottomed out at present and may take a little while to recover but they ultimately will. For now, the marts would appear to be the best opportunity for sheep farmers with their stock.”
TheCattleSite News Desk
