Strong prices for calves leads to fall in export levels

THE home trade for calves is continuing strongly and maintains pressure on exports, with agents unable to compete with cheaper supplies available within the EU to meet the orders from the major feedlots.

Calf exports for the year are but a trickle of the level in previous years, although the average prices for beef and dairy breeds have fallen below the level of the corresponding weeks in 2001.

Calf exports are running at 400-500 head a week, with total exports for the year at 6,543.