Beef-price decline at factories halts
After two months of downward pressure on beef prices, there is a reversal in the pattern, with prices for R4L bullocks rising an average of 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) and prices at factories showing improvements of 6-9 cents/kg (2p-3p/lb) while almost half of the plants increased prices paid by 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) or more.
The improvement has been influenced by a further reduction in cattle supply, with throughput at factories dropping by 3,300 head to a total of 25,238 head last week, more than 5,000 head less than the same week last year. The supply of bullocks was down 1,400 head at 11,930, which was 3,600 head less than the corresponding week in 2005.
