Easier tone to beef trade at the factories

THERE was an easier tone to the beef trade at the factories yesterday, with some of the sparkle of last week's prices clearly missing from the scene, as some of the processors pulled back on their quotes.

Producers who were in a position to sell last week and took advantage of the strong demand and higher prices are counting the benefits which they would not have been able to secure for the same cattle yesterday at the factories.

It would have been the exception rather than anything remotely near the rule to secure over 90p/lb yesterday for R grade animals under 30 months.