For the last number of years, a P+ animal was generally quoted a price of 30p/kg to 35p/kg behind the U-3 grade, although in recent months this gap has widened to around 52p/kg. It is a problem for finishers working with cattle from the dairy herd. The reason put forward by processors for the gap in prices is that O- and P grades do not currently meet British supermarket requirements. That means they must sell this beef in markets in direct competition with southern Irish processors.

For the time being, it also means that the prices for O- and P grades, as published in the grid on the Northern View on page 59, are not directly applicable for some finishers.

That grid was agreed between the UFU and NIMEA in 2010, ahead of the introduction of VIA grading. It was only ever a guide to pricing at individual plants, but it did bring a slight change in emphasis in favour of better conformation quality animals by applying 2p deductions for each step from a U+ to an R-.

In return, there were 6p deductions thereafter. It meant that a P+ animal was 30p/kg back from a U-.

Whether that 30p gap fully reflected the true value to a processor of a U- over a P grade is an area for debate.

A recent study by EBLEX suggested that a U-3 grade carcase will yield 73.8% of saleable meat compared with only 68.1% for a P3 carcase.

Those figures would equate to a gap of close to 40p/kg between U- and P grades.

Good conformation quality cattle have traditionally subsidised the price of poorer conformation quality animals.

However, with the current 52p gap in quotes, that can no longer be said. British supermarket specs are the key driver in the current market.

November milk league correction

The November 2014 Northern Ireland milk league for the 500,000-litre per annum producer published in the Irish Farmers Journal last week contained an error in the Glanbia Cheese prices.

The correct prices are 22.80ppl for alternate-day collection (and not 22.32p as published) and 22.80ppl for daily collection (and not 22.02p as published). These corrected prices take into account the fact that Glanbia Cheese suspended milk collection charges for November (and has announced that there will be no collection charges for 12 months).

Seventh position

The corrected figures put Glanbia Cheese in seventh position in the November league (and not ninth position as published). The figures for Glanbia Cheese in the other leagues and in the rolling averages were correct.

Three prominent representatives of the agri-food industry in NI have received awards in the new year honours list.

Former chief executive of Moy Park, Nigel Dunlop has been awarded a CBE for services to business and the economy in NI. Dunlop was head of Moy Park for six years, before stepping down in 2013. Receiving an OBE is CAFRE director, John Fay, for services to agri-food education. He was appointed to the role of principal of Greenmount in 1998, and then director of all three CAFRE colleges in 2003.

Also receiving an OBE is Campbell Tweedie, president of the NI Meat Exporters Association, for services to the red meat industry and community in NI. Throughout his career, he developed business interests right across the meat industry, although he is probably best known for his time as group sales director with the then Dungannon Meats, when he was at the forefront of bringing the concept of retail packing of meat to NI.