400 steers enough to tip balance

BEEF processors are again resisting calls to rise beef prices, following a slight increase in the supply to factories over the past week.

While the intake at factories increased about 1,150 head last week, it remained almost 5,000 head behind the corresponding week in 2008 (29,600 compared to 34,750 in 2008).

About 12,200 steers and 7,500 heifers were slaughtered, increasing from the previous week by about 400 and 200, respectively.