Quotes for cattle at some of the plants have eased by 2p this week. Best quotes for U-3 grading steers are at 312p, while others are at 310p, with one factory down as low as 308p/kg.

Heifer quotes are also at 312p and 310p, a fall of 2p in some cases.

According to factory agents, beef sales remain slow and some are talking of further reductions for next week.

It is somewhat of a turnaround from last week, when a number of factories were reasonably tight for cattle and generally paying up to 320p/kg to secure supplies. With the strengthening of the euro against sterling, there was increased optimism that the market would, at worst, remain steady.

While some farmers maintain that the latest threat of a price cut is only to flush out more supplies, the market in Britain is also under some downward pressure, with 4p/kg taken off quotes at the start of this week. That leaves quotes for R4Ls in the north of England around 336p/kg, with lower quotes on offer moving further south.

In NI, the total kill last week of 8,671 was up marginally on the previous week and included 1,848 cows.

The numbers also included 375 imported from the Republic of Ireland. Trade in the opposite direction was 243 head, while 220 were taken to Britain for direct slaughter.

Reports suggest that more cattle have come forward this week for slaughter in NI, with a number of factories also well-filled for next week.

Prices paid last week were up slightly on the previous week, with steers and heifers averaging 308p/kg, up 1p/kg.

The cow trade is unchanged at some plants, while one has cut 10p off its quotes. This puts quotes for an O+3 grade cow anywhere between 218p and 235p/kg, with top quotes for R grades at 230p and 235p/kg. The average prices paid for R3 and R4 grade cows continued at 250p/kg last week.

Hogget trade

The good trade in hoggets continues, and with the euro strengthening to almost 79p, demand from southern buyers is keen. The plants are at 405p/kg, an increase of 5p, and 400p/kg to the maximum weight limit at 22kg. This puts a 22kg hogget at £89.10.

In the marts, trade is also firm. In Kilrea, Monday, a show of 325 hoggets sold from 373p to 400p/kg, up by 8p/kg.

Massereene sold 702 head ranging from 370p to 402p/kg – no change. The majority of hoggets were in the range 375p to 385p/kg. Heavy hoggets made up to £100/head for 26kg, while the best medium weights at 22kg were making up to £88.

In Saintfield, a smaller show of 425 head sold from 352p to 400p, up 10p for the heavier weights.

Fat ewes are still a strong trade. Top prices were Newtownstewart £95, Swatragh £83, Omagh £101, Kilrea £76, Massereene £109 and Saintfield £95.