Beef prices bust butcher’s bottom line as cattle market reaches new highs

Consumers and retailers are starting to feel the heat of the booming livestock market after 12 months of rising cattle prices.

The average price for young cattle in the eastern states reached $8.88 per kilogram last week, $3/kg more than the same time last year.

Central Queensland butcher Ricky Sutton said beef prices were the highest he had seen in his 41 years in the industry.

“Prices have gone up 25 per cent approximately,” Mr Sutton said.

He said budget cuts of meat,…