South American influence felt in 2005

OVERALL beef prices at the factories returned 3.6% more on average in 2005, compared to 2004, but the average for the year masked a year of unusual highs and lows.

Following a strong trade in the spring and early summer months, prices slumped sharply from the final weeks of May through to late autumn, before making a good recovery for November and December, to finish the year ahead of expectations for the final weeks, during which demand for cattle was exceptionally strong.

The highest weekly factory kill in four years was recorded for the second week in December, with the throughput exceeding 44,000 head at the meat export plants.