There are some signs that the beef trade has bottomed out, with factories generally having to stand on at last week’s prices paid.

The best base quotes at the plants are similar to last week, with 584p/kg on offer for a U3 grade steer and 586p/kg for a U3 grade heifer.

Slightly more is going for regular suppliers and for in-spec cattle and while factories are still well booked into next week, numbers coming forward are less plentiful than they were – when prices are coming down, it always tends to encourage more cattle to the market.

Any potential deficit in the coming weeks is unlikely to be compensated for by cattle coming off grass.

Turnout has been late this year across NI and with grass quality already in a rapid decline, there is little prospect of any grass-fed cattle coming forward until much later. Ultimately, tighter numbers should help turn the trade over the coming weeks.

Prices paid

The prices paid last week were down for the 10th week in succession, although the drops were not as severe as seen during April and early May.

U3 grading steers were back 4.5p/kg to average 591.6p/kg, with R3s down 3.4p at 589.3p/kg. Heifers were back by a similar amount, leaving U3 grades at 590.7p and R3s at 587.6p/kg.

Across all steers and heifers, the price paid last week averaged 585.9p/kg, down 3.6p/kg. Since the start of February, that average has dropped 56p/kg.

Britain

In Britain, there are also reports that numbers are less plentiful and wait times to get cattle killed have generally disappeared.

That has helped to settle the trade, with prices paid last week down by around 2p to 4p/kg, dependent on grade. Over 30p/kg had come off prices paid in the previous four-week period. Prices paid in Britain remain about 10p/kg ahead of those in NI.

Cows

The best quote for a fat cow is unchanged this week at 494p/kg for an O+ animal.

Prices paid for R grades continued to fall last week, with R4 cows at 517.2p/kg, down 3.8p.

However, the price paid for P2 cows was up 3.9p at 465.1p/kg and that helped take the overall average price paid for all cows to 470.9p/kg, up 4.5p/kg on the previous week.

NI sheep: higher prices for spring lamb

The trade for spring lambs has picked up, reversing the falls of last week.

In the plants, the quote is up 10p at 850p/kg or £178.50 at the 21kg limit.

In Gortin, the trade was very strong. Impressive lambs at 23kg made £259 or 1,083p/kg, with 28kg at £234 or 835p. Lighter lambs at 21kg made £177 or 831p/kg.

In Kilrea, lightweight lambs at 20.5kg made £190 or 927p/kg, with 20kg at £181.50 or 908p. Lambs at 22kg sold for £189.50 or 861p/kg.

In Markethill, the trade was well improved on last week, running from 840p to 902p/kg. Lambs at 21kg sold for £189.50 or 902p, with 20.2kg at £181 or 896p/kg. Heavy lambs at 25kg made £216 or 864p/kg, with 24kg at £206 or 858p/kg.

A stronger trade in Saintfield had 505 lambs selling from 825p to 890p/kg.

In Ballymena on Wednesday, a firm trade saw lambs at 22kg making £187.50 or 852p/kg and at £186.50 or 848p. Lambs at 22.5kg made £188.50 or 838p/kg and at £186 or 827p. Lambs at 23.5kg sold for £195.50 or 832p/kg.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, best ewes ran from £190 to a top of £260.

In Kilrea, the top was £266 and in Markethill, the best fleshed ewes sold from £180 to £262.

In Saintfield and in Rathfriland, the top price was £230.