There is little change in the beef trade this week as supplies of finished cattle and demand appear to be finely balanced. Cattle quotes are holding at 342p/kg, with one plant continuing to hold at 346p/kg for U-3 cattle.

Prime cattle are moving at much higher prices. Farmers selling cattle this week continue to report that factories are mostly working from a starting price of 346p/kg.

Most reports indicate that in-spec steers are moving at 348p/kg to 350p/kg, with regular sellers with greater numbers securing another 2p/kg at the top end of the market.

Heifers are moving at similar prices to steers, with farmers finding it easier to negotiate on price where they have bigger numbers of cattle.

Prices for young bulls vary with different processors. Indications are that bulls are moving at 346p/kg, with some plants paying 350p/kg at the top end of the market for in-spec animals.

The weekly kill has fallen again this week. The prime cattle kill totalled 6,363, down just over 400 head on last week. The cow kill was down 200, with a weekly total of 2,001.

Processors indicate that beef sales are slow and that they require fewer cattle, but the positive for farmers is that this is not being reflected in any real downward pressure on cattle prices at present.

With cattle supplies tighter, the number of cattle imported for slaughter has increased. Cattle imported from the Republic for direct slaughter increased by 85 head to 251 animals, while 201 cattle were imported from Britain for slaughter.

Cows

The trade for cows this week is also steady, with factory quotes remaining on 245p to 250p/kg for O+3 animals, while R grade animals are starting from 260p/kg at most plants.

However, 270p/kg is still being paid for young cows carrying plenty of flesh.

Hogget trade

The quotes at the plants for hoggets this week are steady at 370p/kg payable to 22kg deadweight.

In the marts, there were smaller shows compared with the previous week and prices were up.

Kilrea had 350 hoggets selling from 337p to 377p/kg, up by 4p/kg or more on last week.

Massereene had a sale of 855 hoggets making from 340p to 376p/kg, up by 5p to 8p/kg on last week.

In Saintfield, Tuesday, they had a sale of 444 hoggets making from 340p to 388p/kg, up by 5p to 13p/kg on last week.

In Rathfriland, Tuesday evening, a show of 523 hoggets sold from 313p to 375p/kg and averaged 344p/kg, down only 1p/kg on last week.

Ewes

Top prices for the best fat ewes are up in most of the marts this week. They sold to a top of £99 in Newtownstewart; £150 in Swatragh; to £107 in Omagh; to £70 in Kilrea; and to £100 in Massereene. In Saintfield, 94 ewes sold to a top of £100, while in Rathfriland a show of 120 ewes were a good trade selling to a top of £98/head.

In Ballymena, Monday evening, the best store hoggets sold from £56 to £68/head. The best Suffolk in-lamb ewes made £130 and £128. Texel ewes made £129, with crossbreds at £127.

Ewes with twins at foot made up to £180 for a Suffolk, while crossbreds made £160, down to £135 for the outfit.