Summer price trend established

BEEF prices at the factories have settled into a steady pattern across the country which is continued this week as supplies of cattle showed signs of increasing.

There is however a regional difference of up to 9 cents/kg (3p/lb), with cattle farmers in the northern half benefiting from the higher prices which are generally offered by the factories there.

One of the reasons for the difference is that the supply of cattle continues to be stronger in the south.