Cattle quotes up

With the market leader putting base quotes to 360p/kg last week, the other plants have followed suit this week, making 360p/kg widely available for U-3 grade cattle.

Quotes are on an all-in basis for in-specs, with the well-established range of penalties applying to out-of-spec cattle. One plant stressed that their 360p quote was for in-specs only. Others admitted to an expectation from farmers that 370p/kg will be available before the end of the year, although predicted that the market could slow in January.

For the holidays, plants will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The number imported for slaughter from the south last week was 763 head. Exports to the south were 241 head and 156 head went across to Britain.

The total kill last week of 9,076 was 500 down on the peak of mid-November. Prices paid last week showed strong increases, with steers averaging 347.4p/kg, up 8.7p on the week, and heifers averaging 350.4p/kg, up 7.3p. In the fat cow trade, the market for R and O+ grade cows is steady and quotes are unchanged at 244p and 245p/kg.

Lamb quotes

With supplies of lambs remaining tight, the factories have increased their base quotes by 5p/kg to 390p/kg. Farmers are pushing for 400p, but this price is being resisted for the time being, although the price has been achieved by some groups. In the marts, prices were up by around 2p to 6p/kg for the main weight ranges. In Kilrea, there was a show of 525 lambs selling from 346p to 412p, up 6p/kg. Fat ewes sold to £91. Massereene had a show of 925 lambs selling from 350p to 391p, up 5p/kg for the heavier lambs. Saintfield sold 602 lambs ranging from 328p to 411p, up only slightly for the main weight range. Fat lambs at 24.5kg made 350p/kg and £86 a head, while heavyweight lambs at 26.5kg made £90 a head (340p/kg). The best store lambs made from £77 to £80. And 45 fat ewes sold to £97.50.