Australia: Cattle shortage pushes offal, hide prices up

THE global shortage of cattle is making itself felt in the offal market, combining with ongoing ramped-up demand on the back of the pandemic to push prices significantly higher that year-ago levels. Most beef co-product prices are higher than month-ago and year-ago levels, with tongue, lips, cheek and tails leading the charge, while sheep hearts have been in strong demand. Hides, too, continue on a sharp upward rise. In some categories, the increase year-on-year is now as much a 8100 per cent, with the hide price lifting from 25 cents a piece to $20.50. The latest Meat & Livestock Australia co-product report shows heavy Victorian hides are now making as much as $49 each. Tick-free heavy hides from Queensland are selling for $27.50 a piece and heavy NSW hides $37, both up by more than 1000 per cent on this time last year. All hides are now of commercial value, a long way from the zero returns some categories were showing only a year ago. Co-product market consultant Dennis King ...