Finished cattle prices slide again
By FWi Staff
FINISHED cattle prices fell again for a third week running at markets around the country yesterday (Monday).
Medium steers took the heaviest drop in their category, falling 2.61p to 80.8p/kg, while medium steers only took a slight fall at 81.56p/kg. The throughput of cattle was higher with an increase of 136% for steers.
Throughput of light and medium heifers rose by 236%. Light heifers took the heaviest price fall, dropping 1.49p to 79.74p/kg.
Prices are back by as much as 10p/kg on a fortnight ago, said Auctioneer Philip Dale of Bury St Edmunds. “Prices shorten up at this time of year as yard cattle are finished. Over the past two weeks more cattle have been about in the North and Wales, and large abattoirs are full, so there is no demand from their buyers at market,” said Mr Dale.
Young bulls plummeted 3.95p to 82.20p/kg at markets. Medium bulls fell only slightly, while heavy bulls dropped 2.40p to 85.60p/kg. Commenting on yesterdays market, auctioneer Mike Williams of Penkridge, Staffordshire said that he had seen prices fall 2-3p in the last fortnight. “Trade is not fast,” he said.