Beef prices achieve further bite

Marts: Beef prices made further gains at the factories as the supply of cattle slaughtered reached the seasonal peak with a throughput in excess of 40,000 head.

As the average paid by the processors for R4L bullocks increased to slightly in excess of 105p/lb, the return to producers has now recovered the full extent of the recent cut in prices by the factories. Such is the demand for cattle to supply the market, a further increase of 5,500 in the kill — up from 29,600 head to 40,685 in two weeks — did not deter the upward trend.

The average paid for R4L bullocks increased by 2c/kg (0.6p/lb) while similar grade heifers improved by 1c/kg. Prices paid for O4L stock made similar gains.