Factories to tighten prices

ALTHOUGH the intake of cattle at the factories dropped further last week, the processors are reporting an increase in the supply of stock for the early days of this week and an increase in forward bookings.

Side by side with this message from the factories is the bad news of their intention to tighten on prices, leaving producers somewhat suspicious of the connection and fearing that there is a link which is not to their advantage.

There was a carry over of bookings from last week, mainly due to the factories supporting the farm protest on Thursday last, which has meant that most of the stock being slaughtered during the first half of this week were purchased at last week’s prices. Better for them is the impression being given as the processors tighten on prices for cattle into next week.