Slimmer pickings as steer prices fall

AS the weekly supply of steers to the factories reached the seasonal high of last year, pressure on prices has commenced to show at the processors for this week’s purchases.

A good percentage of the cattle slaughtered during the first two days of the week were purchased forward at last week’s prices, but the general trend of buying this week has been for a reduction of 3 cents/kg (1p/lb), indicating the first bite at the price as the sector head into the autumn peak.

Most of the factories across the south are quoting 235-224 cents/kg (84p-80p/lb) for R/O grades with 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) more on offer in the midlands and in the North West a bit extra for R3 steers, but not available for R4 grades.