Cattle supplies to remain stable

Marts: Cattle supplies for the factories for the remainder of the year are predicted to be largely in line with the corresponding period last year.

But the unusual circumstances which prevailed during the final months of 2004, in the lead up to the changeover from headage-based premia to the direct single payment structure, will be absent from the equation this year and could result in a bigger carry over of forward cattle into the New Year than occurred last year.

Bord Bia reports that throughput at the export factories for the first nine months of the year was down by 70,000 head, equal to 7%, which was largely accounted for a drop in bullock disposals of almost 11%, while heifer supplies were more than 9% lower.