Supply increase of 1,000 helps processors

PROCESSORS have strengthened their resistance to beef price rises following a further increase in the supply of cattle to plants over the past week.

The increase of about 1,000 head in the kill, to 29,532 head, strengthened the hand of processors in price bargaining. Steers accounted for around 9,500 head, with the supply of heifers very strong, coming in at less than 1,000 head behind the steers. There was also a strong supply of cows to take advantage of current prices.

As usual, the closer the intake gets to the bench mark of 30,000 head per week, the stronger the processors will feel in their bid to hold prices back.