Market trade difficult

An increased entry (622) and a more difficult trade at Ludlow Market but the two did not go together.

Even if there had been 100 less cattle they would have been no more money this week, with wholesalers complaining of cheap imports from abroad being given a leg up by recent increases in interest rates at home, causing sterling to be stronger against other currencies.

There is also meat left from the Christmas period. Many wholesalers said that the holiday period was the worst they have experienced for some time.

Coupled with this there have been large numbers of cows on the market and a lot of cow beef is now finding its way into jobs formally filled by clean cattle.