Beef prices expected to increase

Marts: The first positive indications of an improvement in beef prices at the factories are expected to emerge today when the processing plants reopen following the holiday weekend.

More factories are likely to resume quoting for cattle today as supplies of underage cattle begin to tighten.

The expectation is that prices will show an improvement of 3-6 cent/kg (1p-2p/lb) for cattle under 30 months, but penalties averaging 6 cent/kg (2p/lb) will be more strictly imposed on overage cattle in lots where they represent more than a minority.