After an unsuccessful attempt to reduce cattle prices earlier this month, processors have managed to pull quotes this week. Several plants have trimmed 4p/kg off their starting price from last week, while other plants starting at the lower end of base quotes remain unchanged.

After several weeks of static prices, base quotes now stand at 342p/kg to 346p/kg for U-3 grade cattle. With more cattle around and reduced demand, farmers are finding it much harder to negotiate on price. Deals are still being made ahead of base, with reports of 350p to 352p/kg being paid midweek on in-spec prime cattle.

However, indications are that more farmers are being held closer to base price for cattle sold towards the end of this week. Some buying agents indicate they have been instructed to keep below the 350p/kg barrier. Some plants are paying up to 6p/kg over base on steers and heifers, but these plants are working from the lower end of the base quote range. This brings their all-in cattle price level with those starting on 346p/kg and offering 2p to 4p/kg over base.

Young bulls and Friesian cattle are a more difficult sell as numbers start to increase and demand softens. While some plants will offer more on continental bulls under 400kg carcase weight and 16 months of age, dairy-bred bulls appear to be held at the lower base prices on offer.

Last week’s average price paid on steers and heifers was 347.78p/kg, down 0.5p/kg on the previous week. U grade steers and heifers were paid to an average price of 359p/kg, while young U grading bulls averaged 348p/kg.

Cows

Quotes for O+3 cows remain steady on 244p to 250p/kg with R grade cows running 10p/kg above this. Good-quality cows are being paid 5p to 10p/kg above quotes with last week’s average price of 272p/kg paid on R3 grading cows.

Hogget trade

The quotes for hoggets this week are, at best, 370p/kg for up to 22kg deadweight, with 365p/kg also on offer.

In the marts, there were smaller shows and prices are steady or up slightly.

Kilrea had 200 hoggets selling from 336p to 351p/kg, which was up by from 3p to 8p/kg.

Massereene sold 928 hoggets making from 335p to 368p/kg, which was up slightly for heavier hoggets.

In Saintfield,they sold 508 hoggets making from 330p to 383p/kg, which was similar trade to last week.

In Rathfriland, Tuesday evening, a small show of 222 hoggets sold from 320p to 360p/kg and averaged 338p/kg, similar to last week.

Top prices for the best fat ewes are back by up to £8/head. They sold to a top of £79 in Newtownstewart, £84 in Swatragh and to £93 in Omagh. In Kilrea, ewes sold to £84, in Massereene to £86 and to £90/head in Saintfield. In Rathfriland, a small show of 41 ewes had a good trade selling to a top of £82.

In Ballymena, Monday evening, the best store hoggets sold from £61 to £70.50/head. The best mule, crossbred and Texel in-lamb ewes made from £150 to £185. Suffolks in-lamb made up to £148/head.