It is mostly a case of as you were in the cattle trade, with little changes to prices on offer. Processors have been working hard to gain more control over the trade, but most agents concede that prime cattle numbers are just too tight at present.

Finished cattle coming from the shed are limited and with good grazing conditions, farmers are in no rush to offload cattle at present.

Cattle quotes range from 362p to 366p/kg for U-3 grade animals. Farmers report that plants are working from an opening quote of 366p/kg and most cattle are moving at 368p to 370p/kg.

Larger finishers and regular sellers are securing 2p to 4p/kg more on steers and heifers. The supply of clean heifers is reported to be extremely tight, giving producers with a good supply of in-spec animals a very strong bargaining position on price.

Where agents have been reluctant to pay higher prices on cattle, they have been offering deals on transport and out-of-spec animals.

Plainer cattle and dairy-cross animals are moving at prices of 350p to 360p/kg, with Friesian types moving at the lower end of this price range.

Young bulls are becoming more valuable as the supply of steers and heifers tighten. Prices on bulls range from 365p to 370p/kg, but finishers with larger numbers have been pushing for more.

Slaughter cattle imported from Ireland dropped to 195, the lowest figure for the year and down by 160 head on the previous week.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was 362.05p/kg, with U3 steers on 373.8p/kg and U3 heifers on 375p/kg.

Cows

Quotes for cows are 275p to 280p/kg on O+3 animals, with R grade cows on 290p/kg. There are more cows coming on to the market, mainly from dairy herds, but they are not affecting price as of yet.

Lamb trade

Mart prices were steady during the first half of the week, with prices at the lower levels established last week. However, plants have pulled quotes again by 15p and 20p/kg and 445p and 440p/kg is now on offer this week.

At Kilrea, 420 lambs sold from 413p to 426p/kg, down by 5p/kg.

Massereene had a smaller sale of 618 lambs, making from 400p to 467p/kg, down by 25p/kg for heavier lambs, but up by 17p/kg for lighter weights. The top prices per head were £112 for 25kg (448p/kg) and £106 for 23kg (461p/kg).

Saintfield sold 860 lambs at 400p to 444p/kg, no change on last week.

In Rathfriland, a big show of 897 lambs sold from 395p to 436p/kg and to an average of 414p/kg, up 2p/kg on last week. Heavy lambs were a good trade, with a top price of £98 for four pens at 25kg, while 23kg made to £95/head.

The trade in fat ewes remains strong and top prices were up in some marts. They sold to a top of £97/head in both Newtownstewart and Swatragh. Omagh sold to £135 for a big show of 359 ewes. Kilrea sold to £84.50 and in Massereene to £106. In Saintfield, ewes sold to a top of £120, while in Rathfriland 160 ewes sold to £80/head.