A dramatic rise in the price farmers are receiving for beef cattle has meant prices paid here have exceeded the average European price and are within 2 per cent of UK prices.
To date this year, prices being paid by Irish beef plants have been more than 15 per cent higher than in the same period last year for all categories of cattle.
Yesterday, Irish Food Board beef specialist Joe Burke warned that the price rises could meet resistance from customers abroad and consumers at home. “Irish cattle prices have risen dramatically in comparison with the majority of other EU countries. Throughout the first half of the year, the average price paid in Ireland was within 2 per cent of the equivalent UK and EU-15 cattle prices.”
He added that since April Irish steer prices have consistently exceeded the average European price and that this is the first time this situation has arisen since mid-2008.