It is clear that smaller cattle finishers have moved to selling at marts rather than taking their cattle direct to the factory.

The prices being achieved for finished cattle in marts and the fact that they can’t get a forward contract price for small numbers have been the two drivers of change.

This data underlines the importance of the marts as an option for those smaller scale finishing herds.

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It also shows how the balance of power in terms of price negotiation is swinging further away from smaller finishers. Any move to restrict mart sales with new TB rules will have serious consequences.