Hard sell by farmers keep prices up

THERE is very little change in the prices quoted at the factories for beef this week, although the undercurrent in the trade is that the prices are continuing to harden slightly, particularly in the midlands and northern regions of the country, where supplies are at their tightest.

More plentiful supplies of cattle were reported from some areas of the south on Tuesday, as the factories re-opened following the holiday week-end. But farmers are continuing to sell hard, and are holding out for last week's price as a minimum.

Where supplies are continuing tight, there is a shade more being paid for cattle very reluctantly by the processors, who continue to complain that markets are not returning adequately at the prices being paid for cattle, and they insist that they have been going through a tough time this spring. But there is no sentiment among farmers, who are holding out for the best price to be got, and in some cases helping to keep the heat in the trade by moving cattle up the country for the better prices.