Processors anxious to replenish stocks
The pre-Christmas trade have been more than maintained at the plants in the quoted prices for this week’s kill, and the trend of demand exceeding supply for most of the later months of last year has continued into the new year.
Quoted base prices for steers at the factories for this week range from 395 to 405 cent/kg (141p-145p/lb), and processors are reported to be quite anxious to get stock at these or slightly higher prices, to replenish stocks depleted by Christmas demand. Most of the steers are being bought this week at 400 to 405 cent/kg (143p-145p/lb), varying according to the needs at particular factories and the supply of cattle in their areas. Farmers continue to negotiate hard with factory agents, in order to achieve adequate prices to leave a profit margin with forward stock purchased late in 2011 at high prices.
