Factories paying less to beef producers

Marts: Factories reduced the prices paid to producers for beef by 1p-2p/lb, ending weeks of speculation as to when the upward spiral on returns to beef farmers would come to an end.

Pay-sheet returns from the factories for last week show that the average paid for bullocks and heifers was cut by 1p-2p/lb with reductions across the country and throughout the range of cattle slaughtered at the plants.

An increase of 25% in the supply of bullocks last week eased some of the pressure on the processors, allowing for the cut in prices, which the processors had been awaiting the opportunity to introduce for some time.