Quotes at the factories are steady this week, with best quotes at 334p/kg to 336p/kg for U-3 grade steers and heifers.

Despite that, most regular suppliers have been working off a base of 346p to 350p/kg for U-3 grades over the last few days. With cattle numbers tight last week, it forced factories into having to pay more.

However, with the rain last weekend, there are more cattle on offer this week and some factories report that they have cattle booked into next week as well.

It had been thought that numbers might remain relatively tight to the end of the month and that prices would continue to creep up.

It looks as though the weather may have brought these numbers forward.

The higher prices on offer over the last few days are reflected in the prices paid last week.

Steers averaged 332.27p/kg, up 1.7p/kg on the previous week. However, heifers jumped 6p/kg on the week to average 336.68p/kg.

The prices paid for U3 grade steers and heifers averaged 343.1p and 347.2p/kg respectively last week.

The number of cattle coming in from the south for slaughter last week increased to 188 head as factories sought more numbers. Trade in the opposite direction was only 84 head, one of the lowest weekly figures this year. The trade across to Britain for slaughter was 115 head.

The total kill last week was typical of the kills over the last three months at 7,424 head, and included 1,702 cows.

Cow trade

Quotes for fat cows show no change. The best quote for an O+3 grade cow is 250p/kg, with others quoting 240p/kg. The best quote for an R grade is steady at 260p/kg, although farmers report that 275p/kg is on offer to regular suppliers. Last week, the prices paid for R3 and R4s averaged 271p/kg.

Lamb trade

The trade in fat lambs has picked up this week and factories have increased their quotes to 390p and 395p/kg deadweight, making a lamb worth up to £83 at the 21kg limit. However, producers should be looking to deal at 400p, as the prices bid in the marts are increasing, even though there are more lambs on offer.

Kilrea had a sale of 650 lambs and they sold from 356p to 379p, up 8p/kg for the main weight range.

Massereene had a big show of 1,246 head, making from 350p to 377p, up 5p/kg.

Saintfield had a show of 956 lambs selling from 340p to 382p, an increase of up to 12p/kg for the lighter lambs.

In Rathfriland, the sale had 1,325 lambs on offer, selling from 330p to 398p/kg to an average of 357p/kg, which was up by 14p or £3/head on last week.

The trade in fat ewes has improved, with the price of top lots in the marts mostly showing increases. Top in Newtownstewart was £105, in Swatragh £104, in Omagh £91, Kilrea was £84, in Massereene was £92, in Saintfield was £100, while in Rathfriland the top was £80/head.