Trade for cows much weaker

FACTORIES want lower beef prices, but haven’t much chance of succeeding, because the supply of cattle has commenced to slip back. Prices being paid by individual processors factories are down a little one week and back up the next week, which suggests that shopping around can pay for farmers with cattle to sell.

Generally, prices on offer in the south continue to lag behind the midlands and north west by 2p to 4p/lb, encouraging some farmers to move livestock north.

But the better price they get has to be weighed against the higher haulage costs and the effect on cattle of transport over long distances.