Factories trim beef prices further

Marts: Market pressure on beef inflicted a further cut in prices at the factories yesterday for the second consecutive week, running in decline against the normally expected trend for late April.

Reflecting a very difficult trading situation, some factories withheld from quoting for cattle yesterday and others, having reduced prices by 3c/kg (1p/lb) in their opening quote for the week, announced a further reduction of the same amount in the afternoon increasing the number of factories on 232-221c/kg (83p-79p/lb) for R/O grades.

Opening prices of 235-224c/kg (84p-80p/lb) were available in the south in the morning when factories re-opened after the holiday week-end and 238 c/kg (85p/lb) was on offer in the midland areas. In the north-west, up to 242c/kg (86p/lb) was on offer for R3 bullocks.