Factory supply down 7% last month

Livestock supplies to the factories are continuing to lag behind 2003, with the shortage of supplies maintaining the upward trend in returns to producers.

Throughput at the processors dropped by 7% in May, when compared to May 2003, showing a slight worsening of the shortage of livestock over the average year to date deficit of 5.5%. But the scarcity has delivered higher prices to producers with the factories paying 14% more for bullocks last month than for the corresponding period last year.

The total kill was down by 19,000 head, representing a fall of just over 7%. The largest percentage decline was in heifers, down by 12% to a total kill of 24,000 for the month. Bullock supplies were back by 5.5% with a throughput of 57,762 head.