Bigger sales, lower prices

THAT was yet another difficult marketing year for cattle farmers, with an increase of more than 5% in the national kill and lower prices paid to producers than in 2002.

End of year figures are expected to show an increase of around 90,000 head in the overall national kill.

The average price paid for poorer grading heifers dropped by over 4% on 2002, with steer prices recording a drop of 2% for the year.