Supplies tighten but no improvement in prices

It is more of the same for most farmers selling finished cattle to the factories this week, after further tightening in the supply failed to deliver any overall improvement in the prices on offer.

There are some minor exceptions to the overall unchanged pattern of the trade, with a sprinkle of farmers reporting deals at higher than average prices — but they are few and far between.

Approaching June, farmers could not be blamed for expecting a price rise, but the processors are maintaining their rein on prices this season as rarely before, despite tight supply — a cause for farmer concern about what would happen if the intake of cattle significantly increases later in the season.