The cost of buying a turkey this Christmas looks a little more expensive than last year.
Consumer demand for the traditional Christams turkey remains high with prices slightly up on previous years. At a turkey auction in Ashbourne in Meath, low prices indicate there are bargains to be had. Most lots went for 72 or 73 pence a pound with the best produce yielding 80 pence to the pound.
These are the prices that the farmer gets but the price that the housewife pays is of course a different matter.
John Ganly says retail prices for turkeys this year will probably reach about 95 pence to the pound and in some cases a pound for a pound. Despite the increase in price, he believes it is still good value. A strong demand has meant that prices are stable if not slightly up on previous years.
It's still not dear meat when you compare it with beef or lamb.
There is a shortage of turkeys this year in Northern Ireland but buyers have not turned up to auctions in the south which has helped to keep prices somewhat stable. Despite the shortage of turkeys in Northern Ireland, prices remain lower than in the south with oven ready turkeys selling at 57 pence a pound.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 17 December 1979.
