Prices coming under pressure

Marts: Beef prices came under pressure at the factories yesterday — the first sign of attempts by the processors to stall the upward trend of the year to date — with producers resisting cuts.

The supply of cattle increased by 800 head to around 32,700 last week with the intake of bullocks, at 14,200, coming within 500 head of the corresponding week in 2007.

The processors gave producers the impression of less pressure to source sufficient stock as they reduced official quotes for stock by up to 6c/kg (2p/lb) which was condemned by producers.