There are mixed signals in the cattle trade this week, as some factories are holding quotes while others have eased quotes back by 2p to 4p/kg.

This leaves the official quotes starting from a base of 340p/kg with the best quote on offer at 346p/kg for U-3 grade cattle.

Despite some plants moving to pull their quotes, they are still offering deals well ahead of their base. Most farmers indicate that 346p/kg and 350p/kg is being paid for steers and heifers that meet market spec and cattle are moving freely at these prices.

Young bulls are moving at prices of 344p to 346p/kg. Some producers with larger numbers of under-16-month animals have managed to secure 2p to 4p/kg more.

Friesian cattle remain a much harder sell, but factories appear happy to take them at the lower base price to maintain throughput.

Last week, the average price paid for steers and heifers was 347.33p/kg, down 0.4p/kg on the previous week, despite base prices dropping 4p/kg.

Official prices paid on U3 steers and heifers were 358p and 359p/kg respectively, indicating processors still want cattle despite numbers increasing.

Cattle numbers have increased and processors want to keep a tighter grip on prices. But some buying agents say they still need to be offering a good price to encourage numbers to come on to the market to meet demand.

The weekly kill totalled 9,394 head, which is up 1,900 head on the previous week. The prime kill totalled 6,964 head, up 1,400 head on the previous week.

Cows

Quotes for cows are holding at 244p/kg to 250p/kg, with quotes on R grade cows at 260p/kg. Last week’s cow kill stood at 2,218, up 400 head on the previous week. The average price paid on R grade cows was 273p/kg, up slightly on the previous week.

Hogget trade

The quotes for hoggets this week are up 5p, with 370p/kg payable to 22kg deadweight now on offer.

In the marts, there were some bigger shows. Prices are steady or up by as much as £1.50/head.

Kilrea had 420 hoggets selling from 335p to 341p/kg, little changed from last week.

Massereene sold 926 hoggets making from 350p to 375p/kg, which was up on last week, with good demand from southern buyers. Normal weight hoggets were an excellent trade, with £82.50 to £84 paid for 23kg and 23.5kg. Heavier hoggets did not make much more accordingly, with £84 and £85/head paid for 25kg and 26kg.

In Saintfield, Tuesday, they sold 433 hoggets making from 330p to 380p/kg, no change from last week.

In Rathfriland, Tuesday evening, a show of 500 hoggets sold from 323p to 387p/kg and averaged 344p/kg, up 6p on last week.

Ewes

Top prices for the best fat ewes are up by up to £18/head. They sold to a top of £82 in Newtownstewart, £84 in Swatragh and to £97 in Omagh for a big show of 261 ewes.

In Kilrea they made to £90, in Massereene to £104 and to £90/head in Saintfield. In Rathfriland, a show of 86 ewes were a good trade selling to a top of £87.

In Ballymena, Monday evening, the best store hoggets sold from £61 to £72.50/head.

One-hundred-and-thirty-six Texel in-lamb ewes, selling in pens of six or 10 from a Coleraine farm, made from £160 to £190/head. Suffolks in-lamb, from an Antrim farm, made from to £145 to £155/ head.