Positive outlook for beef prices

Beef farmers can be reasonably confident the firm markets that characterised 2011 will continue throughout this year, according to the EBLEX.

It predicted UK prime beef and cull cow slaughterings would fall this year after a rise in the past two years, while imports would remain well below previous years and continental demand fuelled exports.

Strong export demand was predicted for manufacturing beef in particular, giving further support to the cull cow trade alongside prime beef markets. This should offset any fall in domestic consumption due to pressures on household budgets.