It’s a worry to see some abattoirs with queues for cast cows into the New Year. Prices for cull cows are around £2.40/kg and could be dropping as more farmers look to trim their herd bringing more onto the market. High fodder costs and empty cows after scanning is putting more cows onto the market, depressing prices and lengthening queues.

Clean cattle prices are also flagging with farmers getting quoted £3.72/kg from abattoirs and indications prices could dip below £3.70/kg next week. Native breeds have not been immune to the price squeeze with reports of Angus premiums falling or even disappearing at some processors.

This comes at a time when prices typically rise with Christmas demand. Money is tight on farms and the early payment of subsidy has perhaps caused a lull in the typical cashflow this time of year.

Cattle troughs and feed wagons are more expensive to fill this year and courts are getting dearer to bed.

As sheds are filling up with cattle straw demand has risen but volumes on the market have failed to increase supply.

The situation on-farm has not changed very much since the good campaigns at harvest time to get greater collaboration between arable and livestock farmers.

Prices have risen in recent weeks with auctions reporting £22/bale in Aberdeenshire but there still seems to be plenty straw in sheds across the country.

Hopefully these strong prices will pull straw onto the market preventing a sharper and unsustainable spike before Christmas which could lead to a flood of straw in the New Year and prices tumbling.

These challenges are all pushing farmers to exercise caution over new purchases. This perhaps could be one reason why the clearance rates at bull and breeding sales have been a bit low.

All must play our part on E coli

The Food Standards Scotland report into E Coli in cattle is a worry for all connected to the sector. Presenting clean cattle to the abattoir is cited as one of key ways to combat spread of the dangerous bacteria.

However, I know how dangerous clipping cattle can be and we need to ensure there is a joined up approach to the problem. Online clipping should be an obvious option for abattoirs help the situation.

It’s welcome news that a vaccine is being trialled. Let’s hope we get progress soon on this important issue.