Beef prices continue to ease back at factories

BEEF prices at the factories have continued to ease back, with the higher prices dropping up to 4p/lb and the poorer grading animals being the worst hit, in producer returns for last week.

Average prices for all grades of animals dropped by 3 cent/kg (1p/lb) while the higher prices being paid the previous week dropped by 6-12 cent/kg (2p-4p/lb) for O grade bullocks and heifers, which were the hardest hit.

The throughput of bullocks at the factories was back by 1,700 head on the previous week, but the push to get supplies for the Christmas orders was not present, leading to the drop in prices, despite the lower level of supplies on offer.