Christmas trade should break 90p

THE news on the livestock front is good or not so good this week, depending on whether you are a seller of young animals, or still marketing the last of the older stock.

The price margin between these categories is widening, with a gap of up to 10p/lb opening up between cattle under 30 months and those over age animals going into the factories this week.

All of the indications are now favourable for the young cattle, with a further hardening of prices expected to end in 90p/lb being realised within the near future, as demand outstrips supply in the lead into the Christmas trade.