Prices for prime cattle remain flat, with processors leaving base quotes unchanged again this week. This keeps official base prices on U-3 grading animals at 324p to 334p/kg.
Plants indicate that there are adequate numbers booked over the next week and with supplies coming on to the market easier to source, farmers report it has become harder to negotiate for higher prices.
Indications are that the bulk of steers are being offloaded at 334p to 338p/kg, with 6p to 10p/kg more for regular sellers or those with bigger numbers of in-spec heifers.
In contrast, there is a more positive outlook for cull cows, with mart managers indicating there is much more appetite from buyers looking for good-quality continental animals.
Prices are rising on the back of buying competition for limited numbers and improved demand for manufacturing beef.
While base quotes on R3 grading cows remain on 260p/kg, farmer report deals of 270p to 280p/kg and more on offer for animals with higher conformation.
Cattle kill
The NI cattle kill totalled 9,291 head for the week ending 22 February, a rise of 238 head on the previous week.
Most of the additional throughput came from beef heifers, which increased by 274 head and helped the prime cattle kill rise to 7,143.
Imports of Irish cattle for direct slaughter at NI plants increased by 42 head to 322. For the first time this year, there was NI cattle shipped to slaughter plants in Britain, with 38 cattle exported.
Price report
The average price paid on steers and heifers fell by 0.66p to 333.4p/kg last week, with U3 steers down 1.4p to 339.2p/kg.
Prices on R3 grading steers was marginally higher than U3 animals at 339.4p/kg, thanks to premiums on breed schemes.
The average price paid on U3 heifers increased by 0.6p to 347.5p/kg, with the average paid on R3 cows down 0.4p to 275.6p/kg.
Prices are rising on the back of buying competition for limited numbers and improved demand for manufacturing beef
Hogget trade
The hogget trade continues to strengthen, with quotes rising 15p/kg, with 480p/kg on offer at processing plants, making a hogget worth £105.60 at the 22kg weight limit.
In the marts, numbers were down on last week which underpinned the buying competition and helped to lift prices.
In Kilrea, 280 hoggets were sold, a drop of 40 head on the week, with prices from 422p to 435p, up by 6p/kg for heavier hoggets.
Massereene had a show of 646 hoggets, which sold from 430p to 478p/kg, up by 5p/kg for heavier hoggets.
In Saintfield, numbers fell by 177 head to 530 hoggets, which sold from 429p to 480p/kg, up by 29p/kg on last week.
Rathfriland had a small sale of 300 hoggets, down 214 head, with prices of 410p to 467p/kg. The sale averaged 438p/kg, up by 16p/kg.
In Lisahally, heavy hoggets to 28kg made £111. A pen of Beltex sheep at 23kg made £109. Plainer hoggets at 25kg made from £104 to £107 and horned sheep made £106.
Ewes
The demand for well-fleshed ewes is vibrant, with exceptional prices at the top of the market.
The top in Newtownstewart was £120, with Omagh selling ewes to £125. Swatragh sold ewes to £168 for 285 head. In Massereene, top price was £154, while in Kilrea, it was £114. In Saintfield, top price was £126 and in Rathfriland, it was £157.
In Ballymena, ewes with twin lambs at foot were a sharp trade, selling from £170 to £182.
The best springing ewes sold from £138 to £158 for Suffolks and £164 for Mules. Store hoggets made £98.
Read more
Thrive: basics of calf rearing – calf arrival
Beef price update: signs of more life in young bull and cow trade
Prices for prime cattle remain flat, with processors leaving base quotes unchanged again this week. This keeps official base prices on U-3 grading animals at 324p to 334p/kg.
Plants indicate that there are adequate numbers booked over the next week and with supplies coming on to the market easier to source, farmers report it has become harder to negotiate for higher prices.
Indications are that the bulk of steers are being offloaded at 334p to 338p/kg, with 6p to 10p/kg more for regular sellers or those with bigger numbers of in-spec heifers.
In contrast, there is a more positive outlook for cull cows, with mart managers indicating there is much more appetite from buyers looking for good-quality continental animals.
Prices are rising on the back of buying competition for limited numbers and improved demand for manufacturing beef.
While base quotes on R3 grading cows remain on 260p/kg, farmer report deals of 270p to 280p/kg and more on offer for animals with higher conformation.
Cattle kill
The NI cattle kill totalled 9,291 head for the week ending 22 February, a rise of 238 head on the previous week.
Most of the additional throughput came from beef heifers, which increased by 274 head and helped the prime cattle kill rise to 7,143.
Imports of Irish cattle for direct slaughter at NI plants increased by 42 head to 322. For the first time this year, there was NI cattle shipped to slaughter plants in Britain, with 38 cattle exported.
Price report
The average price paid on steers and heifers fell by 0.66p to 333.4p/kg last week, with U3 steers down 1.4p to 339.2p/kg.
Prices on R3 grading steers was marginally higher than U3 animals at 339.4p/kg, thanks to premiums on breed schemes.
The average price paid on U3 heifers increased by 0.6p to 347.5p/kg, with the average paid on R3 cows down 0.4p to 275.6p/kg.
Prices are rising on the back of buying competition for limited numbers and improved demand for manufacturing beef
Hogget trade
The hogget trade continues to strengthen, with quotes rising 15p/kg, with 480p/kg on offer at processing plants, making a hogget worth £105.60 at the 22kg weight limit.
In the marts, numbers were down on last week which underpinned the buying competition and helped to lift prices.
In Kilrea, 280 hoggets were sold, a drop of 40 head on the week, with prices from 422p to 435p, up by 6p/kg for heavier hoggets.
Massereene had a show of 646 hoggets, which sold from 430p to 478p/kg, up by 5p/kg for heavier hoggets.
In Saintfield, numbers fell by 177 head to 530 hoggets, which sold from 429p to 480p/kg, up by 29p/kg on last week.
Rathfriland had a small sale of 300 hoggets, down 214 head, with prices of 410p to 467p/kg. The sale averaged 438p/kg, up by 16p/kg.
In Lisahally, heavy hoggets to 28kg made £111. A pen of Beltex sheep at 23kg made £109. Plainer hoggets at 25kg made from £104 to £107 and horned sheep made £106.
Ewes
The demand for well-fleshed ewes is vibrant, with exceptional prices at the top of the market.
The top in Newtownstewart was £120, with Omagh selling ewes to £125. Swatragh sold ewes to £168 for 285 head. In Massereene, top price was £154, while in Kilrea, it was £114. In Saintfield, top price was £126 and in Rathfriland, it was £157.
In Ballymena, ewes with twin lambs at foot were a sharp trade, selling from £170 to £182.
The best springing ewes sold from £138 to £158 for Suffolks and £164 for Mules. Store hoggets made £98.
Read more
Thrive: basics of calf rearing – calf arrival
Beef price update: signs of more life in young bull and cow trade
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