Despite talk of plenty of cattle on offer, base quotes this week are well aligned, at 360p for both U-3 steers and heifers, with significantly more on offer for a batch of in-spec cattle.

While some factories tried to talk down prices last week, this didn’t materialise, with base quotes generally unchanged this week.

Prices into the low 370s continue to be paid to regular suppliers.

Last week, U3 steers averaged 373.3p/kg and heifers averaged 375.8p/kg, both significantly ahead of base quotes. Across all steers, the average price was 361.6p/kg, up nearly 1.5p on the previous week. Heifers averaged 363.5p/kg, up over 1p, as finished cattle numbers in NI remain relatively tight.

In Britain, prices continue to be strong and generally underpinned by robust consumer sales, although sales of barbecue products have taken a significant hit in the past week. In general, prices in Britain are around 10p/kg ahead of what is on offer in NI for better conformation grades.

The difference is not enough to encourage cattle from here to move across. For the second week in succession, no cattle went to Britain for slaughter.

Despite the euro moving to a 10-month high against sterling, the number of cattle coming in from the south for slaughter last week was high at 319 head, as some factories look to maintain throughput. Trade in the opposite direction was only 59 head, the lowest weekly figure so far this year.

Cow trade

The trade in fat cows is steady, with the best quote for an O+3 grade cow at 275p/kg, while others are quoting 270p and 265p. The best quote for an R grade is 285p/kg, with others on 281p and 270p/kg. Prices paid for well-fleshed R grading cows averaged over 305p/kg last week.

Lamb trade

After three weeks of cuts, lamb quotes at the plants have turned upwards, with an increase of at least 5p. Hence, 405p is available and 410p/kg at a push for up to 21kg deadweight. This comes after increases of 16p in Saintfield and 11p in Rathfriland on Tuesday.

In Kilrea, 375 lambs sold from 358p to 371p/kg; up 4p/kg compared with last week.

In Massereene, a big sale of 1,238 lambs made from 360p to 389p, down about 5p on last week.

In Saintfield, a sale of 688 lambs sold from 366p to 404p/kg, up by 16p/kg.

Rathfriland had a sale of 921 lambs making from 358p to 444p/kg and averaged 376p. This was up by 11p/kg on the week.

The very firm trade in fat ewes continues, with most top prices showing increases. Ewes sold to a top of £116/head in Newtownstewart and to £87 in Swatragh. Omagh had a very big sale of 617 ewes selling to a top of £126. In Kilrea, the top price was £84 and in Massereene was £119. In Saintfield, they sold to a top of £100; and in Rathfriland to £85/head.

In Ballymena, Monday evening, the best store Texels and Suffolks made from £62 to £71. Texel and Suffolk breeding hoggets made from £122 to £165. The big Greyface and Mule hoggets and crossbred and Suffolk Cheviot ewe lamb sale is on this Saturday in Ballymena.