Beef showing gains

MARTS: Beef prices gained an average of 1-2 cents/kg (approx. 0.5p/lb) at the factories as supplies continued to increase, according to the farmer pay-sheet returns for last week’s kill.

The processors paid an average of almost 293 cents/kg (104.6p/lb) for R4 bullocks and heifers and over 102p/lb average for O4 grade, all categories showing slight gains on the previous week.

Throughput was up to 20% higher than average for the first week of January at a total kill of 30,767 head. There was a bullock supply of 13,110 head and 9,134 heifers, both substantially higher than the same week last year or the average weekly kill for early January.