IRISH beef processing companies were awarded tenders for only 25 tonnes of EU intervention beef for the next fortnight, the smallest contract since the scheme was reintroduced after the BSE crisis. This will take fewer than 100 animals off the market during the next fortnight at a price of 94p a lb.
This price was freely available at meat plants last week as bullock supplies remain scarce and farmers who did bring animals found a ready market for them. Heifer prices also improved and commanded prices of 94p a lb for top quality animals. Cow prices remained firm and 80p a lb was being paid for suitable animals.
Some 15,500 head of cattle were processed at meat export plants last week, a decline of 17 per cent on the corresponding week last year, according to Bord Bin.