The beef trade started the new year on a positive note, with farmers reporting prices remaining unchanged, while others stated improved deals on bigger numbers of cattle have been made.

Last week, cattle agents were hinting at an easier trade with a shorter kill week and having sufficient cattle booked for the first two weeks of January.

However, some agents indicate that while there is a good supply of cattle coming on to the market, they are working hard to secure adequate numbers to fill orders.

Finishers with larger numbers for sale would be reporting a similar trend. Several finishers state they have had agents looking for cattle this week and for the week ahead.

While sales of beef usually slow in January, there is still solid demand for manufacturing beef and supplies of finished cattle remain tight in Britain. As such, plants here continue to fill any supply gap.

Also, there is little change to the beef trade in the south. Processors are facing resistance from finishers to any price cut, leaving the trade on a firm footing this week.

As such, processors here have left base quotes unchanged on 350p to 356p/kg on U-3 grade cattle.

Farmers with limited numbers for sale are finding it difficult to negotiate a price above base of 354p to 356p/kg.

But more regular sellers with good supplies of in-spec cattle are managing to secure 364p to 370p/kg at the upper end of the market, with some deals including transport.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was 356.21p/kg, an increase of 4p/kg on the week before Christmas. The average price paid on U3 steers was 365.1p/kg, with U3 heifers averaging at 366p/kg.

Cows

The trade for cull cows is firm, with O+3 animals on a quote of 275p/kg and R3 cows on a base of 280p/kg.