More life in cattle trade, but processors remain cautious

Flat price deals and the carrot of partial or full transport costs being on the negotiating table are also beginning to surface again, particularly for larger lots of steers and heifers

It is generally agreed that there is a little more on price being conceded by processors this week to secure stock, which is very welcome among suppliers and has opened the opportunity for more hard selling to achieve an extra return. File photo

Factory prices for cattle are stable, with some early shoots showing signs of a tightly controlled, marginal hardening as demand for stock firms up, while the major processing groups are reviewing and planning adjustments to handling lower intakes.

Most factories are quoting steers on a base of 700c/kg and heifers on 710c/kg, both similar to last week, but suppliers are reporting that there is an extra 5–10c/kg being paid for both categories in deals with producers by processors to secure more stock.