Producers disappointed with prices

IT should be one of the best months of the year for beef producers as processors sourced supplies to fill the Christmas orders, but instead it has turned out disappointing for the beef men with anticipated prices failing to materialise.

The strength of the supply of cattle to the factories is continuing to undermine the prices being paid by the processors.

The strength of the supply over the past month has eased any pressure on the factories to pay higher prices for cattle — because they can secure plenty at current rates — leaving producer expectations of a tight trade in the busy pre-Christmas period delivering higher returns.