There is more life in the beef trade after a long period of steady prices. Cattle supplies are really starting to tighten, making buying agents more active to source numbers.

As such, farmers selling cattle are in a more upbeat mood. Most farmers report that prices are up by 2p to 6p/kg compared with the week previous.

Some processors have been slow to raise their quotes in line with prices being paid and continue to quote 348p to 350p/kg.

However, other plants have increased their quotes to be more reflective of the current trade, with a base of 356p to 358p/kg now on offer.

Indications are that most cattle are starting from a price range of 358p to 360p/kg at the majority of plants. Farmers with bigger numbers of in-spec cattle, especially heifers, are being offered 362p to 365p/kg.

Some deals are being made which include haulage, while other deals have further premiums to be applied on top of base price for in-spec cattle being sold on supply agreements.

Young continental bulls meeting market spec on both age and carcase weight are moving at 360p/kg, with other finishers reporting 365p/kg on offer where larger numbers are available.

With factories closed on Monday for the bank holiday, cattle agents indicate they are reasonably well covered for next week and anticipate little change in the trade.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was up marginally to 349.7p/kg.

The average price paid on U3 steers was up 2.5p to 361.7p/kg, with U3 heifers also up 2p to average 362.1p/kg.

Cows

With prime cattle numbers getting tighter, demand for cull cows has grown and prices have edged upwards. Factory quotes are on 290p/kg for O+3 grading animals, with R3 cows on 300p/kg. However, deals of 305p to 310p/kg are common, with 320p/kg on offer for good-quality beef cows.

Hogget trade

The hogget trade has strengthened further this week. Quotes at the plants are up by 20p and 25p/kg. The top quote is 505p/kg, but more is available. A 22kg hogget is now worth over £111.

In the marts, southern buyers continue to push prices up. At Kilrea, 480 hoggets made from 471p to 524p/kg, up by 50p to 67p/kg on last week.

Massereene had a big sale of 1,369 hoggets and prices were down slightly. They made from 450p to 520p/kg, which was easier by 10p/kg on last week.

In Saintfield, 887 hoggets sold from 450p to 527p/kg, up by 47p/kg for lighter lambs. A great pen of 49 Texels and Suffolks at 26kg made £118.

In Rathfriland, a big show of 800 hoggets averaged 457p/kg, down slightly with a bigger show of plainer-quality hoggets on offer. Hoggets at 25kg and 26kg made from £118 to a top of £125.

The fat ewe trade is still very strong, with increased top prices. Top was £146 in Newtownstewart; £135 in Omagh; and £136 in Swatragh. In Massereene, top price was £137 and in Saintfield, it was £110. Top in Rathfriland was £122.

Store lambs in Ballymena, Monday evening, made from £68 to £79 for Texels, Cheviots and Dorsets. The best in-lamb Blackface ewes made £135 and £120, with Suffolks making £123 and £120. The best ewes with twin lambs at foot made from £150 to £208.