The beef trade is finely balanced between processor demand and the supply of finished cattle this week.

With the Christmas kill over and big numbers of cattle still coming on to the market, some plants have eased their quotes by 2p/kg.

Base quotes for U-3 cattle are now on 350p to 356p/kg. While cattle agents are talking of an easing in the trade, cattle are moving at 354p to 356p/kg, with deals of 4p to 6p/kg over base on offer.

Regular sellers report similar deals to last week of 360p to 365p/kg at the upper end of the market.

Cattle agents have hinted that a further cut of 2p/kg is possible next week, but this will depend on the availability of supply and the demand for beef in Britain.

Prime cattle numbers are much tighter on the other side of the Irish Sea and, as such, beef prices are strengthening, with 380p to 386p/kg on offer for R4L grading animals.

A price differential of 20p/kg has opened up between U grade animals in Northern Ireland and those in the north of England.

Prices in Scotland are running up to 30p/kg ahead of NI on U grade animals.

On a 380kg carcase, this leaves NI cattle trailing by £76 to £114 behind the British counterparts.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers in NI was 352.4p/kg, with U3 steers averaging 363.9p/kg and U3 heifers on 365p/kg.

Imports of slaughter-fit cattle from the south have slowed, as Irish plants have become much more active for cattle, despite record kill levels.

Only 60 cattle were imported for slaughter at NI plants.

However, over 200 cattle moved in the opposite direction for processing at southern plants.

Cows

The cow trade is steady on quotes of 265p to 275p/kg for O+3 animals with R grade animals on 280p/kg.

Lamb trade

The lamb trade is on a knife-edge this week, with plants cutting quotes by 5p/kg, while most of the marts are steady or up slightly on last week. Factory quotes are 390p/kg, making a lamb worth £85.80 at the 22kg carcase weight limit.

Lamb numbers in the marts were pretty steady and in Rathfriland, Tuesday evening, prices edged up by 2p/kg on average.

In Kilrea, 500 lambs sold from 345p to 361p/kg, no change on last week.

Massereene sold 1,106 lambs making from 340p to 372p/kg, down 10p/kg on last week.

In Saintfield, a sale of 856 lambs made from 336p to 383p/kg, up by 17p/kg on last week for heavier lambs.

Rathfriland had a sale of 729 lambs making from 328p to 373p/kg and averaging 352p/kg, up by 2p/kg on last week.

The top prices for fat ewes have edged back slightly, but can still make £100 or close to it. Ewes sold to a top of £97 in Newtownstewart and to £90 in Swatragh for 106 sold. Omagh had 218 ewes selling to £90/head. In Kilrea, the top price was £105 for a show of 40 ewes and in Massereene, it was £96 for 130 head. In Saintfield, the top price was £95 for 66 ewes sold. Rathfriland had a big sale of 206 ewes selling to a top of £90.