Top prices slightly weaker

Marts: There was no change in mainstream average prices paid by the factories for cattle last week, but minor downward adjustments are showing at the top end of the market, which may be early signs of an indicator of a ceiling on returns being positioned by the processors.

Cattle supplies to the factories have built up — last week’s total kill was 32,789 head compared to 30,767 head for the same week last year — and the processors are not anxious to see prices rising further.

The most noticeable trend was the slight weakening in the top price paid for most categories — the exception was R4L heifers which gained 2 cents/kg — and the position of regular leaders like Donegal Meats slipping to fifth place on the price scale for R4L bullocks and failing to make the top seven factories for R4L heifers.