Price penalty for heavy bullocks

Marts: The average weight of beef carcasses supplied to the factories for the first quarter of the year showed a rise of 5.5% and returns for the second quarter are expected to show further gains in carcass weight.

Some of the factories have become selective in the acceptance of bullocks killing out more than 400kgs (880lbs) and those accepting the heavy bullocks have introduced a price penalty on producers to discourage the retention of cattle into weights over 400kgs.

It is believed the ending of the cattle census has resulted in animals being retained longer on farms into heavier weights, but the processors are now saying the carcasses over 400kgs are not meeting with favour at the retail level in the super chains.