§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average price per pound carcase weight paid to farmers for fat cattle over the last four week period; and how this figure compares with shop prices per pound.
§ Mr. BishopThe information is not available in the form requested. Sample deadweight cattle prices in the United Kingdom are collected by the MLC and these are as follows:
Weeks commencing 2nd-23rd September 7th-28th October (Prices in p per lb.) Steers (575 lb.) 27.66 25.54 Heifers (525 lb.) 26.33 26.68 Cows (680 lb.) 18.57 17.47 Note: The above prices are for top quality grades. All prices are quoted excluding kidney knob and channel fat.
Source: MLC Weekly Market Survey.
Retail beef prices are collected for the purposes of the Retail Food Price Index and vary according to cut. The latest month for which information is available is September and the retail prices of selected cuts are given below:
September 1974 Beef (Home killed) (p per lb) Chuck 52.5 Sirloin (without bone) 80.2 Silverside (without bone)* 69.1 Back ribs (with bone)* 49.3 Brisket (with bone) 47.7 Brisket (without bone) 47.8 Rump Steak* 94.2 * or Scottish equivalent.