The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has criticised what it calls the beef processors attempts to “pull the wool over farmers eyes”, quoting prices of €7.00 for steers and €7.10 for heifers.
It comes after many processors have been forced to halt price pulling due to dwindling numbers, according to the association.
ICMSA livestock committee chair Michael O’Connell said that processors have felt the pressure on supply due to the end of shed-finished cattle and a slow start to cattle coming from grass.
“Processors should be ashamed to quote €7.00/kg base price for steers when they are giving up to €6.70c/kg flat for P and O grade Friesian cull cows. That leaves a prime underage P+3 Friesian steer at the same nominal value as a P grade cow. How is this workable or explicable?”
“We have seen in the past month or so, kill plans being reduced as a means of controlling price and supply, but this can’t last forever and the demand for Irish beef across Europe is huge.”
Demand
Noting that the numbers of cattle across Europe are at an all-time low, O’Connell said that live exports have never been as strong due to Ireland’s Bluetongue-free status.
“We are sure that the volumes of 2023 and 2024 born cattle leaving the country has added to the pressures on processors.
“Demand for Irish cattle is off the charts and is going to continue with predictions of the EU herd falling by a further 5% to 7% this year.
“We are producing the best live cattle and beef in the world and that reality is recognised across Europe and the world; it’s high time that our own ‘big players’ in the processing business recognised it too.”
“The pressure is off farmers with the improvement in the weather; cattle are content and thriving and majority of silage cut," O'Connell said. \ Philip Doyle
Options
The ICMSA has also urged farmers to study their options between marts and factories for finished cattle.
“Loyalty to a processor is gone out the window after the charade of price cuts a few weeks ago. In that context, farmers should not take the first price offered to them by an agent after being told the age-old yarn about it being for you only and for tomorrow only,” added O’Connell.
“The pressure is off farmers with the improvement in the weather; cattle are content and thriving and majority of silage cut. By contrast, the pressure on processors has increased and we’re telling farmers to stand their ground on beef prices in the coming weeks.”
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The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has criticised what it calls the beef processors attempts to “pull the wool over farmers eyes”, quoting prices of €7.00 for steers and €7.10 for heifers.
It comes after many processors have been forced to halt price pulling due to dwindling numbers, according to the association.
ICMSA livestock committee chair Michael O’Connell said that processors have felt the pressure on supply due to the end of shed-finished cattle and a slow start to cattle coming from grass.
“Processors should be ashamed to quote €7.00/kg base price for steers when they are giving up to €6.70c/kg flat for P and O grade Friesian cull cows. That leaves a prime underage P+3 Friesian steer at the same nominal value as a P grade cow. How is this workable or explicable?”
“We have seen in the past month or so, kill plans being reduced as a means of controlling price and supply, but this can’t last forever and the demand for Irish beef across Europe is huge.”
Demand
Noting that the numbers of cattle across Europe are at an all-time low, O’Connell said that live exports have never been as strong due to Ireland’s Bluetongue-free status.
“We are sure that the volumes of 2023 and 2024 born cattle leaving the country has added to the pressures on processors.
“Demand for Irish cattle is off the charts and is going to continue with predictions of the EU herd falling by a further 5% to 7% this year.
“We are producing the best live cattle and beef in the world and that reality is recognised across Europe and the world; it’s high time that our own ‘big players’ in the processing business recognised it too.”
“The pressure is off farmers with the improvement in the weather; cattle are content and thriving and majority of silage cut," O'Connell said. \ Philip Doyle
Options
The ICMSA has also urged farmers to study their options between marts and factories for finished cattle.
“Loyalty to a processor is gone out the window after the charade of price cuts a few weeks ago. In that context, farmers should not take the first price offered to them by an agent after being told the age-old yarn about it being for you only and for tomorrow only,” added O’Connell.
“The pressure is off farmers with the improvement in the weather; cattle are content and thriving and majority of silage cut. By contrast, the pressure on processors has increased and we’re telling farmers to stand their ground on beef prices in the coming weeks.”
Read more
Mogeely Angus females gross over half a million
Beef quotes up as agents look for cattle
ABP offers ‘financial backing and technical advice’ to young beef farmers
Food remains relatively cheap despite rise in retail prices
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