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The upward momentum in the beef trade in recent weeks has slowed, with processors determined to keep a lid on cattle prices.
Several plants have cut their base quotes by 2p to 4p/kg, putting official quotes for prime cattle at 360p to 362p/kg.
Farmers with limited numbers are finding it much harder to negotiate on price, with many offloading cattle at deals of 364p/kg.
Other farmers who are selling cattle more regularly are securing deals of 366p to 368p/kg, while farmers with bigger numbers are managing to negotiate deals over 370p/kg on prime cattle.
Indications coming from cattle agents is that sales of beef are starting to slow as the summer holiday period approaches. As a result, processors require fewer cattle to meet orders.
Plants are managing throughput with some plants reducing their weekly cattle kill to focus more on lambs, while others are still working on a four-day kill week.
This is making it easier for processors to secure supplies of finished cattle as numbers are still relatively tight.
Processors also indicate they would like to make further reductions to beef prices, but with a strong live trade for finished cattle, there is limited scope to make further price cuts .
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was 367.3p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers rose 1.5p/kg to 375.8p/kg, while the average price paid on U3 heifers was 378.2p/kg.
Finished cattle prices are still running ahead of EU averages, where U3 steers are making 373.5p/kg and heifers on 376p/kg.
Prices in Ireland have also cooled, while prices in Britain are steady on 385p to 390p/kg for U grade animals.
Cows
Quotes for cull cows are 290p to 300p/kg for R3 grading animals, with 10p/kg less for O+ grading cows. Deals are still being made well ahead of quotes.
Spring lamb trade
The spring lamb trade has seen a downturn this week, with quotes at the plants falling to 475p and 485p/kg. At 485p/kg, a lamb is worth £101.85 at the 21kg carcase limit.
With more lambs on offer, the lamb trade at the marts has also gone into reverse, with prices well down on last week.
Kilrea sold 400 spring lambs from 445p to 475p/kg, down by 50p/kg on last week.
Massereene sold 762 lambs making from 400p to 485p/kg, down by 70p to 90p/kg.
In Saintfield, 707 lambs made from 440p to 480p/kg, down by 45p to 60p/kg.
At Rathfriland, a big show of 881 lambs sold in the range 435p to 464p/kg, with the majority in the range 445p to 450p/kg. The overall average was 446p/kg, down by 56p/kg on last week. Top price was £108 for very good 23.5kg lambs, with the majority of sales in the range £90 to £100/head.
The fat ewe trade is still firm, with increases in some top prices. Swatragh sold 80 head to a top of £119. In Omagh, top was £116 for 197 sold. In Massereene, the top was £126 for 163 sold and, in Saintfield, it was £100 for 146 sold. Rathfriland sold 136 head to £103.
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