Tighter supplies and higher prices

CATTLE supplies are continuing to tighten and prices are hardening at the factories generally, although this pattern is not universal across the country. Last week’s kill is estimated to have dropped to around 16,500 steers out of a total kill of around 34,500 head, both well down on the previous week.

Producers in some areas are having to battle harder than others to get the benefit of the tighter supply in higher returns for stock — a lot depends on the availability of finished cattle in the particular supply area for individual factories.

While gains of at least 6 cents/kg (2p/lb) were readily available to producers selling in the east of the county, midlands and north west, it was harder to secure the higher prices in the south, where the decline in supply is less and the factories are under less pressure to pay more for stock — at least yet.