Quotes at one of the factories have advanced 2p this week to 326p/kg for steers and 328p/kg for U-3 grade heifers. At the others, they are mainly on 324p and 326p/kg.

Overall, buyers report that beef sales are a little slow, but with numbers reasonably tight, current cattle numbers are meeting their needs.

In particular, numbers of cattle that are in-spec on all requirements are slightly harder to find.

ADVERTISEMENT

Deals

It means that regular suppliers with a batch of in-spec cattle to sell remain in a strong selling position and are able to achieve deals into the mid-330s.

There are reports that 340p/kg and above is being paid for good conformation quality butcher-type heifers.

That is reflected in the prices actually paid last week, with U3 grade steers averaging 332.2p/kg, but U3 grade heifers at 337.3p/kg, which is generally 10p/kg ahead of base quotes.

Across the entire steer kill, the prices paid were up last week nearly 4p/kg to average 322.9p/kg, with heifers up 3.6p/kg to average 324.4p/kg.

While finished cattle numbers are reasonably tight, more cattle are expected to come forward next month. Last week the total kill was down over 2,000 head to 5,691, although it was a short week due to the July holiday.

Britain

In Britain, the cattle trade has continued to edge upwards, with a base of 340p/kg available in the north of England for R4Ls. The actual prices paid show that the market there is generally 10p to 15p/kg ahead of NI.

Cow trade

The cow trade is steady this week at the plants, with the best quote for an O+3 grade cow at 250p/kg, with others quoting 245p and 240p/kg.

Best quotes for an R grade is 255p/kg, with the prices paid for R3 and R4 grading cows last week averaging 264p/kg.

Lamb trade

The value of the euro against sterling has steadied this week at 83.4p and, with good demand from the south, lamb quotes and prices are up slightly on those prevailing before the holidays.

In the factories, Dunbia is at 400p, while Linden is at 395p. This makes a lamb worth up to £84 at the 21kg weight limit.

In the marts, Kilrea had a show of 685 lambs selling from 354p to 367p.

Massereene sold 760 head making from 360p to 398p/kg.

Saintfield had a big show of 766 lambs selling from 348p to 385p. Lambs at 23kg made from £83 to £85/head, while 22kg made from £78 to £81.

Rathfriland had a big show of 1,006 lambs selling from 345p to 385p/kg and averaging 362p, up a couple of pence on the pre-holiday price. Lambs at 22kg made £77 to £79/head, with 24kg at £87 and 26kg at £88. Store lambs at 16kg and 17kg made up to 400p/kg.

Fat ewes are making good prices and top prices were Newtownstewart to £84, Swatragh to £85, Omagh to £102, Kilrea to £90 and Saintfield to £116.

In Rathfriland, there was a very big show of 300 head with the top pen, Texels, selling for £125/head. Next best pens of Suffolks and crossbreds made £102 and £100.