DESPITE disastrously low beef prices some 30p per deadweight kg below the 350p per dwkg five-year average in recent weeks, the tide appears to have turned, with abattoirs reporting price rises of up to 5p per dwkg this week and a similar amount next.

According to those in the know, the backlog of prime cattle is fast disappearing, and with the grass at long last starting to grow, there is a tad more confidence in the sector.

"Store cattle have been a tremendous trade over the past couple of weeks," said Harrison and Hetherington auctioneer, Mark Richardson. "As soon as there was talk of prime cattle supplies tightening, store values started to improve - we're now seeing some of the heavier bullocks sell at £1300 and £1400 and they wouldn't make that in the fat trade."

Such has been the improvement in values, that store cattle prices for the best 12-14-month-old Limousin and British Blue cross yearlings sold at Kirkby Stephen, on Monday, were actually £30 per head on the year, when most people expected the trade to drop £40-£50 per head, he said.

"I do think the beef trade has started to turn as most values have improved over the past two weeks as most farmers have received at least some of their basic farm payments and the fat trade is on the up. Grass is starting to grow now too which will help. There has always been plenty of demand for all types of cattle - the problem before was people didn't have the money or the grass for them."

Beef prices are also heading in the right direction further north too, despite one of the latest ever springs in the area.

"Some farmers are having to sow spring barley in May for the first time ever, but things are looking a lot brighter this week," John Angus, head cattle auctioneer at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' Thainstone centre, told The Scottish Farmer. "We have had to put some sales back because the spring has been so late, but those who have sold cattle in recent weeks have been happy with the trade and, there are plenty of buyers for the cattle. There haven't been the dispersals of cattle everyone thought there would be," he said.

Read more on the current beef trade in this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out May 14.