Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department publishes beef price information and two reports which are published weekly under the beef pricewatch banner. The first sets out average deadweight prices for cattle, which breaks down by Department-approved factory the average price paid per kilo for steers, cows, heifers and young bulls. This data should be helpful for farmers in ascertaining where they can achieve the best prices. The second report is the meat market report which deals with deadweight and liveweight prices as well as live trade details. The report is reproduced by Bord Bia and made available on its website. While my Department receives weekly kill reports from Department-approved factories, such information is not published as it is commercially sensitive material which cannot be published without the agreement of the factories. Any change to this procedure would have to be discussed with all relevant parties.

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