The plants have maintained their base quotes this week for clean cattle, giving a best quote of 612p/kg for U-3 grading steers and heifers.

The actual prices being paid for U3 cattle remain above 640p/kg, although agents are generally offering deals of around 642p to 644p/kg, rather than deals closer to 650p/kg as seen in February.

Reports suggest high-value cuts such as striploins are proving hard to sell in Britain and that has taken the edge off the overall trade.

Last week, the average price paid for a U3 grade steer was 645.2p, down by 3.2p.

A U3 grade heifer was at 647.7p, down only 0.3p.

Across all steers and heifers, prices averaged 639.6p/kg which is down 2.5p on the same average from the start of February.

In Britain, prices have been generally steady over the last month and broadly in line with the trade in NI.

However, there had been some expectation that the trade across the Irish Sea might have picked up this week, but the latest reports suggest that is not the case.

Irish prices

In the Republic of Ireland, processors are also pointing to slow beef sales in Britain and have cut their quotes by 10c/kg as a result, potentially widening out the price gap to NI to around 25p to 30p dependent on grade.

Last week saw 553 cattle imported from the south for direct slaughter in NI, which is the biggest weekly import figure in nearly a year. Just 59 cattle went in the opposite direction.

Those direct imports helped boost last week’s cattle kill, with 9,377 head slaughtered, up 187 on the previous week, but still over 1,000 head fewer than the same week in 2025. To date in 2026, the kill is running 5% behind the same period in 2025.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows are also steady at the plants and the best quote for an O+ cow is at 506p/kg.

The price paid for well-fleshed suckler types remains around the 550p to 560p/kg mark, with R3 cows averaging 556.1p/kg last week. P3 grades averaged 519.3p with P2 grades at 497.4p/kg.

NI sheep: hogget prices up again

The trade in the marts for hoggets has improved again this week.

Quotes in the plants are up by 20p to 690p for 22kg and 22.5kg deadweight, putting a hogget to £155.25 at the 22.5kg limit.

An improved trade in Gortin saw prices reaching £180 for 36kg and £172 for 31.5kg. Hoggets at 23.8kg made £152 or 638p/kg.

Trade in Kilrea was strong, making to a top of 676p/kg for 20.5kg at £138.50, with 660p for 23.5kg at £155. The best hoggets at 25kg made £164 or 656p/kg.

In Markethill, a firmer trade saw 750 hoggets selling from 600p to 670p, up by 20p for heavier sorts. The 670p was for 21.8kg at £146, with 656p for 20.8kg at £136.50. Heavies made from £159 to £166.

Stores sold very well to 719p/kg for 18.5kg at £133.

In Ballymena, the trade was well up. Heavy hoggets from 26kg to 32kg made from £163 to £170/head, up by £10 and £11 on last week.

Good hoggets at 23kg made £162 or 704p/kg. Hoggets at 22.5kg made £155 and £156 or 689p and 693p/kg, up by £10 on last week.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the top ewes made £228 and £234, with others from £160 to £200.

In Kilrea, the top was £276 and in Markethill, the best fat ewes made from £170 to £238.

In Rathfriland, the top was £284.