The beef trade remains on steady ground this week, with processors again leaving base prices unchanged.
This keeps base quotes on prime cattle at 318p to 320p/kg for U3 grading steers, while heifers are holding at 320p to 322p/kg.
There are deals being made above base quotes, but they are harder to come by unless bigger numbers can be offered.
However, with cattle agents continuing to report that there are plenty of animals still coming on to the market, most farmers indicate that deals are mainly confined to 2p to 4p/kg ahead of base quotes.
Farmers report that steers are moving freely at 320p to 322p/kg, with heifers typically moving at 324p to 326p/kg.
Factory throughput has been increasing week on week
Deals beyond this level appear to be less common this week and are confined to larger, specialist finishers on a regular killing arrangement.
A key factor behind steady prices stems from some factories focusing more on cattle throughput over lambs, with other plants moving to a six-day kill schedule.
Factory throughput has been increasing week on week.
For the week ending 28 September, the weekly cattle kill hit a nine-year high point with 10,593 animals processed.
On further analysis, the prime cattle kill totalled 7,977 head, putting it at its highest level since late February 2011.
The average price paid on U3 heifers was 327.3p/kg
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers fell by 0.97p to 316.21p/kg.
The average price paid on U3 steers was 322p/kg, a marginal increase of 0.3p/kg on the previous week.
The average price paid on U3 heifers was 327.3p/kg, which is down by 1.7p/kg on the previous week.
Cull cows
Processing demand for cull cows is holding steady, although there are more animals coming on to the market from the dairy herd.
Base quotes on R3 cows remain on 260p/kg, with O+3 animals on 250p/kg, with deals above base on offer for good-quality beef animals.
Lamb trade
The lamb trade has steadied this week and quotes at the plants are unchanged, holding at 340p to 345p/kg, making a lamb worth £72.45 at the 21kg deadweight limit.
While factory quotes are unchanged, the mart trade has improved. In Kilrea, 250 lambs sold from 305p to 318p/kg, up by 7p/kg.
Massereene had a show of 942 lambs making from 300p to 324p/kg, up by 5p/kg for heavier lambs.
In Saintfield, 602 lambs sold from 300p to 353p/kg, up by 25p/kg.
Rathfriland had a show of 760 lambs making from 283p to 357p/kg, averaging 317p/kg, up by 10p/kg on last week.
Lambs at 24kg made £73.50, with 22kg at £70. Store lambs were up by £5/head as more farmers were bidding actively.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade shows some improvement this week, with an increase in top prices at some sales.
The top in Omagh was £96, with Swatragh selling to £106 for a show of 307 head.
In Kilrea, top price was £75 and in both Massereene and Saintfield, ewes made £90. In Rathfriland, top price was £93, with a big run from £70 to £90/head.
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The beef trade remains on steady ground this week, with processors again leaving base prices unchanged.
This keeps base quotes on prime cattle at 318p to 320p/kg for U3 grading steers, while heifers are holding at 320p to 322p/kg.
There are deals being made above base quotes, but they are harder to come by unless bigger numbers can be offered.
However, with cattle agents continuing to report that there are plenty of animals still coming on to the market, most farmers indicate that deals are mainly confined to 2p to 4p/kg ahead of base quotes.
Farmers report that steers are moving freely at 320p to 322p/kg, with heifers typically moving at 324p to 326p/kg.
Factory throughput has been increasing week on week
Deals beyond this level appear to be less common this week and are confined to larger, specialist finishers on a regular killing arrangement.
A key factor behind steady prices stems from some factories focusing more on cattle throughput over lambs, with other plants moving to a six-day kill schedule.
Factory throughput has been increasing week on week.
For the week ending 28 September, the weekly cattle kill hit a nine-year high point with 10,593 animals processed.
On further analysis, the prime cattle kill totalled 7,977 head, putting it at its highest level since late February 2011.
The average price paid on U3 heifers was 327.3p/kg
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers fell by 0.97p to 316.21p/kg.
The average price paid on U3 steers was 322p/kg, a marginal increase of 0.3p/kg on the previous week.
The average price paid on U3 heifers was 327.3p/kg, which is down by 1.7p/kg on the previous week.
Cull cows
Processing demand for cull cows is holding steady, although there are more animals coming on to the market from the dairy herd.
Base quotes on R3 cows remain on 260p/kg, with O+3 animals on 250p/kg, with deals above base on offer for good-quality beef animals.
Lamb trade
The lamb trade has steadied this week and quotes at the plants are unchanged, holding at 340p to 345p/kg, making a lamb worth £72.45 at the 21kg deadweight limit.
While factory quotes are unchanged, the mart trade has improved. In Kilrea, 250 lambs sold from 305p to 318p/kg, up by 7p/kg.
Massereene had a show of 942 lambs making from 300p to 324p/kg, up by 5p/kg for heavier lambs.
In Saintfield, 602 lambs sold from 300p to 353p/kg, up by 25p/kg.
Rathfriland had a show of 760 lambs making from 283p to 357p/kg, averaging 317p/kg, up by 10p/kg on last week.
Lambs at 24kg made £73.50, with 22kg at £70. Store lambs were up by £5/head as more farmers were bidding actively.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade shows some improvement this week, with an increase in top prices at some sales.
The top in Omagh was £96, with Swatragh selling to £106 for a show of 307 head.
In Kilrea, top price was £75 and in both Massereene and Saintfield, ewes made £90. In Rathfriland, top price was £93, with a big run from £70 to £90/head.
Read more
Vet bodies strike agreement to Brexit-proof qualifications
‘Farmers will be hugely disappointed by Budget 2020’ - ICMSA
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