February 25, 2013

South American steer prices remained firm last week with an average of US$3.40 per kilogramme cwt.

This was reported by market analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia.

In Brazil, cattle prices have been stable, with short numbers to slaughter and the carnival holidays slightly increasing steer prices in all main markets. In SP state steer prices averaged US$3.33 per kilogramme cwt last week.

Typical for this time of the year in Argentina is a cattle shortage, which left meatpackers with little stock, consequently pushing steer prices higher last week, to average US$3.66 per kilogramme.

Firm demand in Uruguay assisted in buoying cattle prices, with steers averaging US$3.81 per kilogramme cwt. It is expected that a growing number of cattle will be offered for slaughter in the following weeks, as some areas in Uruguay are becoming increasingly dry.

Interestingly, the sheep meat market also remained firm last week, despite higher slaughter volumes, with lambs averaging US$3.30 per kilogramme cwt for light carcass last week.