Australia-Good prices for By Products help meat trade.

AUSTRALIA-BY-products show a slight improvement

Potential co-product values for cattle were fairly stable in March, with small increases recorded against February for prime steers (up 92¢/head) and US cows ($1.20/head higher), a small decrease recorded for Japanese steers (down 17¢/head) and a larger lift in the value recorded for Japanese grainfed steers (up $11.81/head). Compared to March 2008, potential values were between 26-35% lower, mainly due to steep drops in the prices of tallow and hides, according to MLA’s monthly co-products survey (carried out by Kurrajong Meat Technology).For the most part, co-product values were helped upwards by slight increases in the value of meat and bone meal, tallow and hides although these were almost offset by a fall in average offal values. Co-products derived from grainfed steers rose in value as prices received for grainfed chilled skirts and tongues increased, in contrast to other offal values.Hide prices in all weight ranges firmed slightly in March, with a little more competition between tanners witnessed in southern Australia.