With a best quote last week and into this week of 356p and 358p for U-3 grade clean cattle, most of the other plants have responded and are offering base quotes of 354p for steers and 354p and 356p for heifers. Regular suppliers of in-spec cattle continue to work at prices in the 360s.

In the last few weeks, there has been a concerted effort by some factories to extend numbers out by limiting their weekly kills.

The ultimate aim has been to get base quotes into the 340s, but with numbers of finished cattle not plentiful, that move has failed for now.

Looking ahead, some agents acknowledge that finished cattle numbers could be tight during March, although they expect a pick-up in numbers in April.

Pressure

After that, kills both here and Britain are expected to be under pressure right out to the autumn.

There will be few opportunities to get prices down between now and then.

On the other hand, factory owners maintain that they cannot afford to pay more for beef than they currently are.

The continued weak euro is making it more difficult for local processors to compete in the food service and manufacturing beef sector in Britain, but it also makes southern Irish imports more attractive for some factories.

The number imported for slaughter from the south last week was high, at 545 head.

Exports to the south were 231 head and 117 head went across to Britain.

The prices paid last week were up 1p/kg on the previous week.

Steers averaged 352.1p/kg and heifers 353.5p/kg, although U2 and U3 grading steers and heifers all averaged over 360p/kg.

The fat cow trade remains steady and the market for R and O+ grade cows is from 250p to 260p/kg.

Well-fleshed R grading cows averaged 273p/kg last week.

Hoggets

Hogget quotes this week are at 400p/kg, which is an increase of 5p at one of the plants.

In the marts, the number of hoggets coming forward was well down, but prices were mixed and by midweek, were showing increases of 6p and 7p/kg.

Last Saturday, Omagh had a show of 534 hoggets selling from 341p to 374p, up 17p/kg.

This week, in Kilrea, a show of 440 hoggets sold from 352p to 369p, down 6p for heavier sorts.

Massereene sold 762 hoggets, making from 350p to 382p/kg – no change.

Saintfield, Tuesday, sold 325 hoggets from 350p to 390p, up 6p for the heavier weights. In Rathfriland, 502 hoggets (half the number of the previous week) sold from 326p to 400p and averaged 362p – up 7p on the previous week

The trade for good, fat ewes remains buoyant and there were top prices of £130 in Omagh, £134 in Kilrea, £129 in Massereene and £110 in Saintfield.