Official quotes range from 340p to 344p/kg for U-3 grade cattle this week. Some plants which have been working at the top end of the quotes have shaved 2p/kg from their price, while one plant has added 2p/kg to its quote, bringing it to 344p/kg.

While some plants are quoting 340p/kg, it is not reflective of the prices they are paying for prime cattle.

Most farmers report a starting price of 344p to 346p/kg at plants this week, with prime steers moving from 348p to 350p/kg at the upper end of the market.

Some agents report heifers moving from 348p to 352p/kg, depending on numbers on offer. There have been sporadic reports of 354p/kg being paid to regular sellers for in-spec heifers.

Young bulls are moving from a base of 344p to 346p/kg, with dairy-bred cattle selling for 2p to 4p/kg less.

Cattle numbers are showing signs of tightening, although factory agents maintain they are getting sufficient throughput.

The absence of cattle imported from the Republic for direct slaughter has steadied prices. Just 166 cattle were imported for slaughter week, compared with 524 cattle in the same week last year.

Imports of cattle for the year to date total 858 head, compared with 2,779 last year.

The cow kill continues to bolster the weekly kill, which totalled 9,390 head, down 227 on the previous week.

The prime kill of 7,059 was a drop of over 300 head on the previous week. However, the cow kill increased by just over 100 animals, standing at 2,097 head.

Tighter supplies of prime cattle are being reflected in improved mart prices for finished cattle and some farmers with smaller numbers are opting to sell into this market, rather than sell direct to processors.

Cows

Quotes for cows are easier this week, with 240p to 250p/kg on O+3 animals, with R grade cows running 10p/kg above this.

Hogget trade

The quotes for hoggets this week have improved at one plant by 5p/kg to 375p/kg up to 22kg deadweight, with 370p/kg at other plants.

In the marts, prices were unchanged in Kilrea and Saintfield and up slightly at Massereene.

Kilrea had a bigger sale of 500 hoggets, up 80 head, selling from 333p to 349p/kg, no change from last week.

Massereene had a big sale of 1,026 hoggets, up 100 head, selling from 335p to 368p/kg, up by 3p to 5p/kg on last week.

In Saintfield, Tuesday, they had a sale of 473 hoggets, up 40 head, making from 335p to 375p/kg, no change from last week.

In Rathfriland, Tuesday evening, a smaller showing of 500 hoggets, down 70 head, sold from 324p to 370p/kg and averaged 345p, up 10p/kg on last week.

Ewes

Top prices for the best fat ewes were up this week. They sold to a top of £87 in Newtownstewart; £102 in Swatragh; to £120 in Omagh; to £80 in Kilrea; and to £96 in Massereene.

In Saintfield, 46 ewes sold to a top of £93, with the next lot at £80/head. In Rathfriland, a show of 177 ewes were a good trade, selling to a top of £105.

In Ballymena, Monday evening, in-lamb ewes sold to £143. Ewes with twin lambs at foot sold to £172. In Swatragh, ewes with twin lambs at foot sold to £200 with singles selling to £146. In-lamb ewes sold to £125.