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Farmers remain in a strong position when selling prime cattle and where in-spec animals can be offered, there are higher price deals to be made.
Where cattle fall outside of market specifications on conformation and weight limits, factory agents are much more resistant to any kind of price deal.
Official factory quotes have steadied this week, with plants trying to keep a lid on the trade as they start to move towards the end of the Christmas kill.
This keeps base prices for U-3 grading steers and heifers on 326p to 328p/kg. However, farmers report that 336p/kg is widely available on steers.
More regular finishers report that steers are moving at 340p to 344p/kg, but bigger numbers of animals must be supplied.
Weight limits below 400kg are also a factor in securing higher prices.
Deals are less common on heifers over 360kg deadweight
Heifers continue to push on in terms of price. Farmers report 340p to 348p/kg having been paid when larger numbers are being offloaded.
Some cattle agents indicate that while higher price deals are on offer, they mostly apply to butcher-type heifers.
Deals are less common on heifers over 360kg deadweight.
Cattle marketed through breed schemes are also commanding higher prices towards 370p/kg when the maximum premiums are applied.
The cattle kill fell by 338 head to 9,385
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers increased by 1.3p to 325.88p/kg.
The average price paid on U3 steers rose by 0.8p to 332.3p/kg, with U3 heifers up 1p to 339.1p/kg.
The cattle kill fell by 338 head to 9,385, making it the lowest weekly throughput figure for 10 weeks. Imports of Irish cattle for direct slaughter at NI plants eased by 35 head to 274, while 153 animals were imported from Britain for processing at local abattoirs.
Cows
The cull cow trade remains firm, with R3 grading animals on a top quote of 260p/kg, with the average price paid last week on 272.5p/kg.
Lamb trade
After the recent price rises, quotes for factory-fit lambs at the local plants have steadied on 380p/kg, payable to 22kg deadweight. This makes a fat lamb worth £83.60.
Prices being paid in the marts are strong, with sales held on Tuesday up by 5p to 10p/kg on the week. Light store lambs in particular are a very strong trade.
In Kilrea, 480 lambs sold from 336p to 380p/kg, down by 4p/kg for heavier lambs.
Massereene had a show of 946 lambs, selling from 340p to 380p/kg, no change on last week.
In Saintfield, 824 lambs made from 332p to 422p/kg, up by 10p/kg for heavier lambs.
Rathfriland had a show of 525 lambs and met with sharp demand. Lambs sold from 322p to 437p/kg, averaging 365p/kg, up by 5p/kg. Heavy lambs weighing 30kg half-weight sold from £85 to £90/head. Store lambs were very dear, with 16kg and 17kg lots making £70.
In Lisahally, a show of good in-spec lambs made £82.50 for 24kg and 24.5kg half-weight.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade is robust, with some improved top prices. The top in Omagh was £99, while Swatragh sold ewes to £105/head. In Kilrea, the top was £90 and in Massereene, it was £110. In Saintfield, the top price was £118, while in Rathfriland, ewes made £120/head with others at £110 and £104.
In Ballymena, Monday evening, the best Texel store lambs sold to £80/head with Suffolks selling to £79 and Charollais to £74.
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