Prices on course for Christmas peak

THE trade for under 30 months cattle at the factories this week has been the strongest for the season to date, driven

Under 30 months cattle have been quoted at prices ranging from over 91p/lb back to 87p/lb for R grade and, in reality, it has been hard for factories to purchase quality stock for much less than 90p/lb.

But, even if the supplies are scarce and prices high, the factories are also keeping their kill closely in line with actual requirements, because they maintain that the market is getting too hot for them.