There is more life in the cattle trade this week and farmers who have bigger numbers of prime cattle to sell are benefiting most in terms of price.

Supplies of prime cattle are getting tighter, but processors are still managing to secure sufficient numbers due to the strong throughput of lower grading cattle and cull cows.

Some cattle agents have also indicated that they are now getting a steady supply of grass-finished cattle coming on to the market, which is helping them to fill orders.

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The shortage of finished cattle in Britain is having a positive effect on the local trade as growing demand for numbers across the water is filtering through to plants.

While processors have generally left quotes unchanged at 350p to 354p/kg for U3 grading animals, most farmers are reporting that 356p/kg is widely available as a starting price.

Numbers

Deals of 358p to 360p/kg are more common this week on steers and young bulls. The availability of prime heifers is extremely limited and farmers with bigger numbers to offer are managing to secure prices of 362p to 364p/kg.

Plainer cattle are moving at prices close to 350p/kg, such is the growing demand for manufacturing beef.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was static at 349.37p/kg. The average price paid on U3 grading steers was 354.5p/kg, with U3 heifers on 361.2p/kg.

Prices in Britain continue to strengthen, with R4 grading cattle increasing by 4p/kg to average 376p/kg. Higher prices in Britain is resulting in more cattle moving across to Britain for slaughter.

Cows

As with the prime cattle trade, prices for cull cows are starting to harden. Processors are quoting 280p/kg for R3 grading cows with O+3 grading animals on 270p/kg but deals of 290p to 300p/kg are on offer for good-quality cows.

NI COMMENT: The lamb trade started on a downward trend this week, but steadied on Tuesday. The average at Rathfriland on Tuesday evening was unchanged from last week. Most plants held quotes and 390p is on offer, making a lamb worth £81.90 at the 21kg limit. In the marts, there were fewer lambs on offer which helped to stabilise prices. Kilrea sold 300 lambs from 340p to 354p/kg, down by 10p/kg for heavier lambs. Massereene sold 865 lambs making from 340p to 364p/kg, down 5p/kg for heavier lambs. In Saintfield, 502 lambs made from 340p to 370p/kg, unchanged from last week. Lisahally had 23kg lambs making £80 to £83 with heavyweights at £90 to £92 per head. Rathfriland had 700 on offer, selling from 334p to 416p/kg. They averaged 357p/kg, unchanged from last week. Overall, there were fewer fat ewes forward and top prices held up well in most cases. Top price in Newtownstewart was £90. Omagh sold 380 head to a top of £89. Swatragh sold 400 head to a top of £102. Top in Massereene was £104 for a sale of 148 head. Saintfield had a sale of 304 ewes selling to a top of £95. Rathfriland sold 188 head to £108. In Ballymena, store lambs were a very good trade. The best Texels made £73.50 and £73; with crossbreds also making £73. Charollais sold to £68.50. Breeding hoggets sold to £175 for crossbreds; with ewe lambs to £125 for Suffolks.