The quotes for clean cattle are still moving upwards, with another 4p and 5p added on to base quotes, depending on the factory.

The best quote is at 612p for a U-3 grade steer and 616p for a U-3 grade heifer.

Deals on offer generally start 10p above those quotes, with more going for larger finishers and butcher-type heifers.

Demand for cattle remains strong, with factories looking to secure cattle as they continue preparations to fulfil Christmas orders.

Those factories who had cut kills over the summer are now back to slaughtering cattle five days per week.

The overall average price paid last week for steers and heifers saw its biggest weekly jump in over a year.

The average paid for U3 steers was up 6p to 623.6p/kg, with R3s increasing 8.3p to 622.4p/kg.

U3 heifers averaged 626.6p/kg, up 6.3p, with R3s at 621.7p, up 6.8p on the previous week.

Across all steers and heifers, prices paid averaged 618.5p/kg, an increase of 7.8p on the previous week. It is now the sixth week in a row that prices have increased, with nearly 24p added over the period.

Britain

Tight supply of finished cattle continues to affect the market in Britain, with around 25p/kg added to prices paid since the start of September.

The trade was up again last week by 6p to 10p/kg dependent on grade, with average prices paid for U and R grades now into the 640s. In Scotland, the price paid for heifers crossed 650p/kg for the first time since January of this year.

Irish trade

The trade is also looking positive in the Republic of Ireland, with quotes on offer up by another 10c/kg. In sterling terms, prices paid remain about 40p/kg behind NI when VAT is excluded.

Last week saw 363 cattle imported from ROI for direct slaughter in NI with just seven sent in the opposite direction.

The best quotes for fat cows are up 5p at 515p for an R grade and 505p for an O+ animal.

Prices paid show significantly more is available, dependent on factory, with R grades around the 540p/kg mark and more available for well-covered young suckler cows.

Demand is also solid for Friesians, with the price paid for P2 cows up 2.4p to average 474.6p/kg last week and P3s up 4.5p to 492.9p/kg.

NI sheep: steady lamb trade

Quotes for fat lambs at 22kg are steady at 700p, putting a lamb to £154 at the weight limit.

The firm trade in the marts has continued. In Gortin, heavy lambs at 30kg made £180 and £179. Lambs at 25kg sold to £159, with 24kg to £157.50 and 23kg to £154.50. Strong stores at 20kg made £138, with 19kg to £133.

In Kirea, stores made the top prices, with 18kg reaching £128.50 or 714p and £126 or 700p/kg. Lambs at 25kg made £169 or 676p/kg, with 24kg at £161 or 671p. Lambs at 22kg sold for £146.50 or 666p, with 20kg at £132.50 or 663p/kg.

In Markethill, heavy lambs sold to 683p for 24.3kg at £166, with 636p for 24.6kg at £155.50. Good mid-weights sold to 703p/kg for 20.7kg at £145.50, with 678p for 23kg at £156.

Strong stores made 830p/kg for 17.1kg at £142, while lighter stores sold to 824p/kg for 13.6kg at £112 and 816p for 14.7kg at £120.

In Saintfield, heavies at 30kg made £170 and £164. Lambs at 25kg sold to £150, with 23kg to £147 and 21kg to £132/head.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the tops made from £150 to £194 and in Kilrea the top was £240. The best ewes in Markethill made from £160 to £258, with seconds from £110 to £150.