Big improvement in bullock prices

Marts: Bullock prices have added the largest weekly increase for 2004, with an improvement of 1.3p/lb in the average paid by the processors last week, with individual factories paying up to 2p/lb more for cattle and some processors topping quoted prices by up to 4.5p/lb.

As the scarcity of cattle had its biggest weekly impact of 2004, the prices paid by the factories for R3 bullocks averaged a shade under 93p/lb, with individual factories paying up to 96p/lb to get their requirement of cattle in very short supply. The margin of increase in heifer prices was 0.6p/lb more than the previous week, but sufficient to bring them to par with the bullocks.

Last week's farmer pay sheet returns from the factories maintained the record of consistent prices for stock which has ruled since the beginning of the year, the first time in several years that there has been no easing in beef prices over the opening six weeks of the year.