Factory quotes show no change this week and are in the range 320p to 324p for U-3 steers and 322p to 326p for U-3 heifers.

There are fewer cattle on offer this week, but factory buyers say this is due to the holiday.

It will be next week before a clearer picture emerges of prime cattle numbers, although some buyers suspect that numbers will remain tight for July.

It means that most regular suppliers continue to work off a base in the low 330s for U-3 grade cattle.

Britain

A similar picture has emerged in Britain, where there are no waiting lists and demand remains slightly ahead of supply.

The latest import figures are down, mainly as a result of sterling falling against the euro, making imports less price competitive. However, beef exports are up, with significant increases in exports of frozen beef cuts to Hong Kong.

In recent weeks, there is slightly more optimism in the trade about prices for later in the year.

With more numbers expected this autumn, it had been feared that price would come under significant pressure.

The prices paid in Britain have continued to edge up 2p per week for a number of weeks, and quotes for R4L cattle in the north or England this week are reported to be in the region of 340p/kg.

However, that price is still 20p to 25p/kg behind what was available for the same week in 2015.

In NI, prices paid in the second week of July 2016 are around 20p/kg behind the same week in 2015.

Cow trade

The cow trade continues its steady pattern at the plants, with the best quote for an O+3 grade cow at 250p/kg, with others quoting 245p and 240p/kg.

Best quote for an R grade is 255p/kg, although actual prices paid for Rs continue to be 10p/kg ahead of this quote.

Lamb trade

The value of the euro against sterling has dropped back a couple of pence to 83.5p, but with marts closed for the holidays, the immediate impact on lamb prices is unknown.

In the factories, Linden has eased back 5p to a quote of 390p, making a lamb worth £81.90 at the 21kg weight limit. Dunbia was closed on Wednesday.

There were no mart sales at the start of this week.

Last week in Ballymena, lambs sold to 405p/kg for four Texels weighing 20.5kg making £83 each. The main price range was from 362p to 391p/kg.

Heavy lambs sold to £88.50 for a pen of seven Texels weighing 24.5kg. Fat ewes sold up to £90 for Texels, to £76 for Charollais, to £73 for Suffolks, to £70 for crossbreds and to £40 for Blackface.