The beef trade remains extremely flat, as cattle remain widely available and farmers face delays in getting animals slaughtered. The positive for farmers is that beef prices are holding relatively steady, with slightly improved prices where bigger numbers of in-spec heifers are being offered for sale.

Base quotes are unchanged this week, with plants quoting 348p to 350p/kg on U3 steers and heifers. Farmers indicate that 350p to 352p/kg is the starting price on in-spec animals with an additional 2p to 6p/kg on steers for more regular sellers.

Larger finishers with good supplies of prime heifers are faring best when negotiating on price. Deals of 356p to 364p/kg have been reported and include bonus payments for supply arrangements. Larger finishers are also facing less of a delay in getting animals slaughtered.

Farmers with young bulls to sell are finding it difficult to offload cattle. Cattle agents are less reluctant to negotiate on price, with most animals being bought at 348p to 350p/kg.

Plainer cattle are also facing weak demand, as a surge in cull cows numbers is providing competition for manufacturing beef.

Last week, the cattle kill broke the 10,000 head barrier, making it the largest kill in 12 months. The prime cattle kill stood at 7,394, making it the highest weekly kill for the year to date.

Cull cows jumped to 2,508 head, an increase of 130 animals on the previous week. Again, this was the highest kill of the year for cull cows.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers increased marginally to 350.2p/kg. The U3 steer average was steady on 356.5p/kg, while the U3 heifer average increased by 2p/kg to 363.6p/kg.

Cows

With increased supplies of cull cows, prices have eased by 5p/kg. Base quotes on R3 grading animals are now 265p/kg, with O+3 slipping to 255p/kg.

Lamb trade

Quotes for fat lambs are unchanged at 380p/kg. This makes a lamb worth £79.80 at the 21kg limit.

In the marts, the supply of lambs was steady and prices were unchanged on Monday, but down 7p to 10p/kg on Tuesday.

On Monday, Kilrea sold 450 lambs from 340p to 375p/kg, no change on last week. Massereene sold 946 lambs making from 340p to 371p/kg, no change.

On Tuesday, Saintfield had a show of 700 lambs making from 330p to 376p/kg, down 10p/kg on last week.

At Rathfriland, a show of 802 lambs sold from 303p to 409p/kg and averaged 341p/kg, down 7p/kg on last week.

In Lisahally, heavy lambs at 27kg made up to £84, with good in-spec lambs at 23kg making £79 to £81.

Ewes

The fat ewe trade has eased, with top prices down by as much as £10/head. The top price in Newtownstewart was £78 and in Omagh it was £86 for 175 sold. Swatragh sold 120 head to £74.50. Top in Massereene was £88 for 102 sold. Saintfield sold to £80 and in Rathfriland, ewes made £84 for 167 sold.

In Ballymena, forward store lambs were a very good trade. The best Texels made £76 and £75, with Suffolks making £72.50. The best Dorsets for breeding made £126, with Texels at £120 and crossbreds at £101. Ewe lambs were a good trade, with Blackface making £112, Mules making £96 and Suffolks to £90.

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