| Monaghan IFA Livestock Chairman Andrew Boylan accused the factories of imposing unjustified beef price cuts in an across the board collective manner over the last two weeks. Andrew Boylan said there was no basis for cattle price cuts at this time and pointed out that cattle prices in our main export market in the UK have risen by 5c/kg over the last 2 weeks and were now at the equivalent of €3.35/kg. This week Irish factories are quoting only €3.00/kg, a price difference of 35c/kg or €126 per head to the UK, our main export market. The IFA livestock leader said the factories are trying to frighten farmers into selling cattle cheaper and inflicting serious financial damage on the beef and livestock sector. Andrew Boylan said with the end of the holiday period and the re-opening of schools across Europe demand for beef and particularly manufacturing beef is increasing. This is reflected in higher cattle prices in the UK as well as some price increases across EU countries. Andrew Boylan said with an extra 105,000 head of cattle slaughtered to date this year, cattle numbers for the remainder of the year and into 2011 will be much tighter than last years’ levels. In addition, he said live exports remain strong up 32% on last year at 270,000 head. The IFA livestock leader said the exchange rate with sterling also remains very positive for the meat plants at 82/83p/€1. In addition, he said the value of hides and the fifth quarter is significantly higher than this time last year. Andrew Boylan said the move by the factories to collectively pull cattle prices is extremely serious, particularly in terms of eroding the small profit margins of summer grazers and suckler beef producers. He said by failing to return a viable price to producers the factories were inflicting irreparable damage on the sucker beef herd. |
Friday, 10 September 2010 10:33