Beef prices show steady gains

Marts: Beef prices held the gains made over the past two weeks at the factories yesterday while the delicate balance between supply and demand showed signs of wavering.

The improvement in prices over the past fortnight brought out more cattle to the factories in some areas of the south and midlands yesterday, easing the pressure on the processors to increase prices. The flow is being carefully measured in order to pull back prices at the earliest opportunity.

Quoted prices are unchanged at 102p-98p/lb for R grade and 99p-94p/lb for O’s, and the going prices of last week were being fully maintained in all areas yesterday, but are likely to be under threat from tomorrow.