Stronger supply — higher prices

Marts: A majority of the beef factories paid more for beef — despite a strong increase in the supply — for last week’s kill, underpinning confidence in a stable trade.

Half of the beef plants paid 1-3c/kg (up to 1p/lb) more for R4L bullocks, while the supply hit a seasonal peak at more than 19,000 head, an increase of 2,400 head on the previous week.

Heifer intake was marginally lower at 7,577 head and cows unchanged at 6,856 head out of a total kill of 35,305 head.