Cattle supply trails 2008 by 6,000 head per week

CATTLE supplies remain tight, trailing 2008 by about 6,000 head per week, which is putting pressure on processors to raise prices.

There is some variation in the prices around the country this week, and some gaps between quoted prices and the actual cost of cattle to the factories, as finishers shop round for best prices — with some success in parts of the country where beef cattle supplies are tightest.

A number of processors continued to quote 302 to 291 cents/kg (108p to 104p/lb) for R and O grade steers, but were believed to be actually paying at least 6 cents/kg (2p/lb) more for cattle.