Factory Demand for Cattle Increases – IFA
IFA Livestock chair Declan Hanrahan said demand from meat factories for In-spec cattle has strengthened considerably in the past few days as numbers of suitable cattle tighten on the ground.
He said factories and their agents are struggling to find enough cattle to fill orders, with most prepared to offer 5c-10c/kg over quotes to tie down deals.
“This demand is also very evident in recent days around mart rings where competition is intense between agents for various factories paying prices well above factory quotes,” he said.
The IFA livestock chairman said demand for beef will only increase over the coming weeks and months, driven by the usual summer trade and supplemented by the increased demand generated by the Olympics in Paris.
“Supplies of cattle will remain tight, particularly for In-spec cattle, for the next number of months. It is important farmers take full advantage of the situation by selling hard. Where factories are not forthcoming with higher prices, farmers should consider the mart outlet which is boosted by NI buyers bringing vital competition to the trade.
Declan Hanrahan said the gamesmanship of factories on price must stop. Market conditions for beef are strong. Supplies are tight here and in our key markets, which creates real opportunities for factories to strengthen prices to farmers.
