Higher prices for cattle

HIGHER prices were paid for all types of cattle at the factories last week with the throughput of cattle also remaining very strong.

The overall average paid for R3 bullocks was improved by a half penny per lb with individual factories having paid up to 1p/lb more on average for supplies. The increase in R3 heifer prices was slightly less, bringing heifer prices closer to parity with the bullocks. Average prices paid for O3 grades of bullocks and heifers were also improved, but by a slightly lower margin than the bullocks.

With more overage animals in the mix of the kill at the factories, it is more difficult to determine exactly what is being paid for the young stock from the paysheet returns which take a representative sample of the kill for each grade without showing the age factor.