There is more life in the beef trade this week, as factory agents become more concerned over tighter cattle supplies. While there has been no change in base quotes, farmers have found it much easier to negotiate on price.

Base quotes start at 336p/kg and rise to 348p/kg on U-3 cattle, with most plants indicating their base price is 342p/kg.

Most cattle agents report that numbers are becoming extremely tight and they are struggling to secure numbers. Prices have increased, with more farmers reporting deals of 348p to 355p/kg on offer for steers and heifers.

Larger finishers of prime cattle have reported prices of 356p up to 360p/kg, with transport included. Young bulls are moving at prices similar to steers and heifers, provided they are under 16 months and kill below 400kg carcase weight.

Dairy-bred cattle have seen prices improve, as agents look to source numbers purely to maintain throughput. Reports suggest Friesian-type cattle are moving around the 330p/kg mark. With cattle numbers scarce, the average price paid on steers and heifers last week was 342.08p/kg, up 1.1p/kg.

Prices on U grade cattle increased by a similar amount. Steers rose to an average price of 354.4p/kg, with heifers on 354.3p/kg.

The prime cattle kill fell by over 300 head to 5,891. This is the lowest kill of this year, excluding new year week.

Cows

The cow kill has been propping up throughput at several plants, but they too have seen numbers tighten significantly. The cow kill is down by 130 head to 1,445, which is also the lowest figure for this year. While quotes are unchanged at 245p to 250p on O+3 cows and 260p/kg on R3 animals, actual prices are much higher. Reports indicate 280p to 290p/kg is being paid on R grade cows, with 300p/kg also reported.

Hogget trade

One plant has put 5p/kg on its quote this weekend and 405p/kg is now widely available. One plant has killed the first batch of spring lambs, paying 480p for up to 21kg carcase weight.

In the marts, there were more hoggets on offer and prices were up midweek.

Kilrea had a sale of 350 hoggets selling from 348p to 380p/kg, down 10p/kg.

Massereene had a sale of 767 hoggets making from 360p to 385p/kg, down 15p/kg for lighter hoggets.

In Saintfield, they had a sale of 494 hoggets making from 350p to 400p/kg, up by 10p to 20p/ kg.

In Rathfriland, a show of 330 hoggets sold from 345p to 396p/kg. The average price was 366p/kg, which was up by 6p/kg on last week.

Ewes

The trade in fat ewes remains buoyant with increases in top prices in some marts. They sold to a top of £110 in Newtownstewart; £115 in Swatragh; to £119 in Omagh; to £115 in Kilrea; and to £116 in Massereene. In Saintfield, 66 ewes sold to a top of £100; Rathfriland had a show of 230 ewes, with the best making £95 a head.

In Ballymena, Monday evening, the sheep trade was sharp. The best store hoggets sold to £76/head. A big show of in-lamb crossbred ewes from one farm sold from £182 down to £152. The best ewes with twin lambs at foot made £222 for Suffolks and £207 for Texels.