Beef carcass prices followed a downward trend in August, with Class A and Class C prices decreasing by 1,5% and 4,1% respectively (see Graph 1) month-on-month (m/m). Year-on-year (y/y), however, the Class A beef price was 16% higher, and the Class C price 1,4% higher.
Despite strong annual price growth, profitability as indicated by the beef-to-maize price ratio shows that industry margins are under severe pressure. This is largely the result of high grain and oilseed prices.
In July, there were signs that global agricultural commodity prices were easing. This trend was, however, reversed during August on the back of hot and dry conditions in key production regions in the Northern Hemisphere, which fuelled production concerns. Some of the grain price declines during July and early August were also offset by a weaker rand, and the effect of the decreases was not fully apparent in the local context.
In the last week of August, the prices of Class A and Class C beef stood at about R59,20/kg and R46,25 respectively. The price of weaner calves was just below R36/kg before the implementation of the ban on the movement of live cattle to combat foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in mid-August.
Denne historien er fra September 23, 2022-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra September 23, 2022-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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