Mart prices slipping for cattle

The live trade for heavy cattle has come under slight pressure this week as factories move to soften beef prices.

Most marts have now seen sale numbers return to pre-Christmas levels. But with fewer buyers looking to source cattle this week, prices for R grade steers are back by an average of 9p/kg on cattle over 600kg liveweight.

On a finished 680kg steer, this reduces the sale value by £61 per head. However, top-quality finished cattle are still selling well.

Prices are up slightly on last week, selling to an average 198p/kg while average quality cattle are selling to 171p/kg based on this week’s MartWatch data.

Friesian steers have seen a big drop in sale value, down by 31p/kg on the previous week to a weekly sale average of 137p/kg.

Forward heifers have also recorded lower prices over the past week. Top-quality U grade heifers are down 11p/kg to a sale average of 202p/kg. Average quality lots are down 10p/kg to an average of 179p/kg.

While prices are down, it must be put in context that mart prices were exceptionally strong during the first week of January as sale numbers were limited.

Irish buyers compete for sheep

Lamb and hogget prices are more sluggish this week despite the weakening of sterling giving southern processors an added edge when buying NI sheep.

Factories are working from a base of 360p/kg to 365p/kg with deals above base hard to come by without larger numbers on offer. Supply groups appear to be faring better than individual sellers with reports of groups selling hoggets at 370p/kg.

Buyers for southern plants are driving the trade in the marts with sales earlier this week seeing hoggets selling from £80 to £83 for lowland breeds.

Some buying agents indicate they are finding it hard to secure numbers for the end of the week with southern factories becoming much more competitive due to the exchange rate.

With sterling weakening and southern plants offering €4.70/kg (£3.84/kg) payable to 22.5kg, more lambs are heading south of the border for slaughter.

The trade for good-quality fleshed ewes has followed a similar trend with more ewes heading south over the past week. Prices of £85 to £90 per head are common on quality lots.