ABP is to increase the base price for cattle delivered to its factories from next Monday, a spokesperson for the company has said.

The spokesperson did not confirm what the base price would rise to, but the current price has stood at €3.45/kg for steers and €3.50/kg for heifers for 10 weeks.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the price will rise by at least 5c/kg.

“The price paid by ABP for cattle will always be determined by the prevailing market conditions and those conditions have recently improved.

“ABP can confirm, as was indicated on Tuesday at the beef taskforce, that it will increase the base price of cattle for deliveries from next Monday.

“The actions, this week, of Joe Healy, the outgoing IFA president, were needless and irresponsible,” the spokesperson said.

'At a loss'

ABP said that the company “is at a complete loss” to understand why the IFA pursued a course of “irresponsible, disruptive and illegal action” at retail distribution centres this week.

“The beef taskforce met on Tuesday and Joe Healy and the IFA were fully aware that market indications pointed towards a cattle price increase in Ireland. This was reported extensively.

“Joe Healy is also aware that cattle prices are quoted on a Friday and the timing of this stunt was motivated by competition for membership between traditional and new farm organisations,” it said.

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