Processors slash quotes to a seasonal low, with reductions of 10c to 20c/kg

Finishers are being offered a base of 720c/kg in general by the processors for steers this week.

Any early optimism of a pre-Christmas trade for beef animals at the factories delivering a decent end-of-year boost to the finishers has been totally dashed.

The hope of strong demand for a tighter supply creating such competition for stock as to return a pre-Christmas bonus to the cattlemen has melted to a seasonal low instead, as the processors exercise their complete control of the market.