Difference of 42c/kg on cows

A wide variation has opened up between individual factories on cow prices — up to 42c/kg (15p/lb).

This offers suppliers a handsome return for shopping around before selling as the gap between prime beef and cow prices continues to narrow.

Up to 274c/kg (almost 98p/lb) was paid for R4 grade cows last week, an increase of 3c/kg (1p/lb) while the average for R4L bullocks dropped by 5c/kg (2p/lb) to 288c/kg (103p/lb) in the most unusual May beef market for decades, dashing the confidence of producers in the industry.