Spell of weaker prices only a blip

ANY weakening of beef prices in recent weeks has been blown away as supply tightens, putting factories under pressure to get sufficient supplies this week, and resulting in a reversal of the recent downward price trend.

Quotes from most of the processors were improved by 1 or 2p/lb on Monday, with the poorer grades showing the largest average increase, and a strong indication of more flat price purchasing.

The factories are quoting up to 95p/lb for good quality R grade animals and varying back to 93p/lb, which is an improvement of at least 1p/lb at all factories, and more at some of plants. The O grade stock are quoted at 92 and 91p/lb, an improvement of up to 2p/lb at some factories.