This was a bigger problem this year because the FMD ban stopped the animals from being returned to the seller. Heifers and bulls were treated in the traditional KK approach, on a growing diet for the first few months and then put on a special finishing diet to ensure white fat and pink flesh. The animals were very full when weighed. Margins vary widely between animals with purchase price and weight gain huge factors. Premiums are additional.
Margins vary widely between animals with purchase price and weight gain huge factors.
Premiums are additional. Less demand for beef Normally in the first week of May cattle supplies tighten and prices start moving up. But this is far from a normal year. There is still no farm to farm movement of store animals even though this is now underway in Scotland. Marts are again working as normal in parts of France.