The cattle trade is holding steady this week, as processors return to their normal kill schedule after last week’s holidays. As a result, they are keener for numbers.

However, plants have left official quotes unchanged this week, which start on 360p/kg for U-3 animals and rise to 362p/kg on steers and 364p/kg on heifers.

Most reports indicate that plants are starting most farmers from a base of 364p to 366p/kg, but few cattle are moving at this level.

Those that are being bought at base tend to be from farmers with limited numbers or cattle that receive additional premiums for specific breed schemes.

Farmers with a good supply of prime cattle are finding it much easier to negotiate on price, with reports of 4p to 8p/kg over base price on offer putting cattle at 370p to 372p/kg.

Some larger finishers have reported that there is more on offer, especially for sellers who still have a good supply of steers and heifers that will be coming on to the market over the next few weeks.

Last week, the average price paid for steers and heifers was 361.68p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers is holding at 375.6p/kg, with U3 heifers on 373p/kg. Young bulls averaged 366.9p/kg for U3 animals.

The weekly kill fell by 2,300 head to 5,981 due to plants being closed midweek. The prime kill totalled 4,522, while the cow kill stood at 1,385.

Cows

Demand for cull cows remains strong, both at meat plants and in the live trade.

With a tight supply of prime cattle, processors are also now using cows to fill the supply gap.

Quotes for O+3 grade cows are 275p/kg, with R grade cows on 285p/kg.

There are plenty of deals on offer for cows, with good-quality beef-bred animals making 300p/kg, with plainer cows moving at 290p/kg.

Lamb trade

Quotes at the plants have slipped this week by 5p/kg and 425p/kg is on offer up to 21kg deadweight.

Sales have resumed in the marts, with big shows of lambs and mostly lower prices.

In Kilrea, 580 lambs sold from 388p to 411p/kg. This is up by 4p to 15p/kg compared with the pre-holiday sale. In Massereene, a big sale of 1,116 lambs made from 390p to 417p/kg, down 10p to 21p/kg on the pre-holiday sale.

In Saintfield, 909 lambs sold from 380p to 424p/kg, down 10p/kg for heavier lambs, but unchanged for lighter lambs compared with the pre-holiday sale.

Rathfriland had 860 lambs on offer, making from 378p to 420p/kg and averaging 398p/kg. This is down 14p/kg on the sale prior to the holidays. A big run of lambs sold in the range of £87 to £92/head.

The firm trade in fat ewes has been maintained after the holidays. Ewes sold to a top of £98/head in Newtownstewart and to £120 in Swatragh. Omagh sold 319 ewes to a top of £100. In Kilrea, the top price was £97 and in Massereene was £101. In Saintfield, they sold to a top of £90; while in Rathfriland, the top price was £87.50/head.