Beef heifers in demand

MARTS: There was strong demand for quality heifers at the factories where improved prices were on offer for the choice lots yesterday in contrast to the re-introduction of price penalties on overage cattle at some plants.

In the east, Slaney Meats quoted 280-269c/kg (100p-96p/lb) for R/O grade quality heifers and bullocks under 30 months, but they showed very little interest in supplies of overage cattle re-introducing a penalty of 6c/kg (2p/lb). Up to the benchmark of 100p/lb or a shade more was being paid for heifers at a number of centres as they general took the edge over the bullocks.

Factories in general quoted 274-269c/kg (98p-96p/lb) for R/O grades and securing 100p/lb for bullocks was much more difficult than recent weeks, particularly for the overage bullocks, with good supplies of cattle available to the factories for the beginning of the phase down for Christmas. Some suppliers secured a flat price of 98p/lb for mixes of good R/O grades.

In most regions quality heifers were the only category showing a gain over last week.

The supply of bullocks in particular has continued strong (up 3,000 head per week on this time last year), while heifers are down about 1,000 head per week on 2004, but export markets are continuing good and processors have been anxious for the stronger supply to meet the demand, which is partly the result of the ban on supplies from some regions of South America.

Some factories are planning to have the requirement of cattle pre-Christmas booked in by tomorrow evening, and some discontinued quoting for pre-Christmas cattle by yesterday afternoon.

Cull cows continued a steady trade this week with a base price of 224c/kg (80p/lb) on offer and expect to get 12-15c/kg (4p-5p/lb) more for the good R grade cows.