Average beef price up 3%

Marts: Weak autumn prices for beef have eroded much of the benefit of the higher prices paid to producers during the first half of the year, with returns year-to-date showing a gain of only 3% over the same 10 months in 2004.

The average price paid for the year to early November show that producers received 275 cent/kg (98p/lb) compared to 268 cent/kg (95.7p/lb) over the same period last year for R3 and R 4 grade bullocks.

The improvement in price has varied from 2% for O4 grade to 3% for R3. The quality heifers are showing a gain of 4.6% over last year for R3 heifers at an average year-to-date price of 280 cent/kg (100p/lb) compared to 268 cent/kg (95.7p/lb) over the first 10 months of last year.