Supply keeps beef prices steady

IT has been another week of steady trade for beef at the factories with the balance of supply to demand ensuring that prices in general have been maintained at last week’s level.

Resistance by producers to accepting any cut in the prices on offer at the factories, together with the tight balance between supply and demand, has ensured the base is maintained on cattle prices, with the trade going through a very stable period. Most of the factories are paying up to 294 cents/kg (105p/lb) in the upper region of the country, while prices in some areas of the south are at least 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) less on average at individual factories where supplies of cattle are more plentiful.

The weekly kill is now around on par with the corresponding weeks last year - and holding steady at that level in recent weeks - while for the year to date there is a substantial deficit on the same period in 2004. Figures for the first quarter show that cattle supplies to the factories declined by 70,000 head, with the supply of bullocks down by 36,000 head and heifers back by 25,000 head.