Beef market report: Tighter supply and late grass boost price outlook

The tightening in the supply of cattle to factories, and slight hardening in prices for them, are continuing this week.

The intake of cattle slipped by around 1,000 head last week, falling to just under 29,300 head, a level of supply rarely seen yet this year, with the exception of the shorter working weeks.

It was inevitable that intake would tighten, given the strength of supply year-to-date, which remained ahead of the corresponding period last year by an average of around 1,000 head per week.