Attempts by the factories to dampen the buoyant mart trade collapsed this week as surging farmer and exporter demand continued to underpin prices.
The ICMSA accused the meat plants of pulling “stunts” to slow the mart trade by withdrawing agents from ringside over the last fortnight and attempting to impose a 30-day pre-slaughter residency rule.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the factories were forced to abandon both measures such was the demand for the limited supply of cattle on offer in the marts over recent days.
“Cattle are making 40-50c/kg more in the marts versus what they are worth to kill,” said Michael O’Connell, ICMSA livestock chair.
“At current prices, farmers are happier to sell cattle as forward stores than take on the thankless risk of feeding cattle to supply factories in the winter and spring,” he said.
O’Connell insisted that “a contract model” which guaranteed beef finishers a set price for a period will be required by farmers to convince them to fatten cattle this winter.
Meanwhile, beef prices remain firm this week, with a base of €7.60/kg being paid for bullocks and €7.80/kg for heifers. Up to €7.15/kg is being offered for well-fleshed P-grade cows.
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