Northern view: beef trade steadies as supplies increase

The cattle trade has steadied, as the return of more changeable weather is pushing more cattle off grass and into processing plants.

Cattle agents indicate they are finding it much easier to secure numbers and, as such, there are fewer prices deals on offer this week.

However, there is still strong demand for prime cattle and finishers killing cattle on a regular basis are faring best in terms of price.

The positive for farmers is that base quotes remain stable, even with more cattle coming on to the market. Quotes range from 350p to 354p/kg for U-3 grading steers, with a top quote of 356p/kg on heifers.

There are plenty of cattle moving at 356p to 358p/kg, mostly for farmers with smaller numbers on offer.

Farmers selling more regularly are managing to secure 360p/kg on steers and young bulls meeting market spec.

Where bigger numbers of in-spec heifers are being offered, there is 2p to 4p/kg more on offer, but this is generally reserved for finishers killing cattle regularly.

Last week, the prime cattle kill increased by 573 head to 6,499, with a surge in numbers towards the weekend, making it the highest weekly kill since mid-May. In contrast, the cow kill fell by 130 head to 2,102.

The average price paid on steers and heifers increased by 1.4p to 353.8p/kg.

The average price paid on U3 steers increased by 3p to 362.1p/kg, with U3 heifers holding steady on an average price of 365.5p/kg.

Imports of southern cattle for slaughter at NI plants stood at 390 head, down by 25 on the previous week. Cattle exported from NI to slaughter plants in Britain was down by 17 to 62 head.

Cows

Cull cows prices have also steadied, with factory quotes on O+3 animals holding at 270p to 275p/kg. Quotes for R3 cows remain on 280p to 285p/kg.

Lamb trade

There are plenty of lambs on offer to plants this week and quotes are in reverse gear. The offer is 375p/kg, down by 10p/kg and making a lamb worth £78.75 at the 21kg limit.

In the marts, there were fewer lambs forward and while prices were down on Monday, they steadied on Tuesday, with Rathfriland up by 7p/kg on average.

In Kilrea, they sold 360 lambs from 329p to 340p/kg, down 16p/kg for heavier lambs.

Massereene sold 968 lambs making from 335p to 369p/kg, down 10p/kg for heavier lambs.

In Saintfield, 624 lambs made from 330p to 370p/kg, up 5p/kg for heavier lambs.

At Rathfriland, they had 873 on offer, selling from 325p to 390p/kg. They averaged 341p/kg, up 7p/kg on last week.

In Lisahally, a pen of super butchers’ lambs at 26.6kg made £87.20. Lambs at 24kg and 25kg made from £78 to £80 per head.

Ewes

The fat ewe trade is mixed, with some top prices up and others down. The top in Newtownstewart was £82. Omagh sold 129 head to a top of £76. Swatragh sold 300 head to £85. Top in Massereene was £90 for 170 sold. Saintfield sold 198 ewes to a top of £90. In Rathfriland, they made to £105 for 222 sold.

In Ballymena, forward store lambs were a very good trade. The best Texels made £69 and £73.50, with Suffolks selling to £71. Cheviot-cross hoggets for breeding sold to £195, with Suffolks selling to £163.