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Factory throughput of prime cattle and cull cows continues to rise week on week.
Official DAERA statistics show the cattle kill for the week ending 12 October was 10,760 head, making it the highest weekly kill in 10 years.
The last time more cattle were processed at NI plants was 7 November 2009, when 11,198 animals were slaughtered.
On closer analysis of last week’s kill, prime cattle totalled 7,697, making it the second-highest kill this year and the third-highest since November 2017. The steer kill rose by 232 head to 4,239, which is the highest weekly throughout since 13 October 2012, when 4,384 animals were processed.
The cow kill rose by more than 500 head to 2,926, the highest figure this year, and put cow throughput at a two-year high.
With plants increasing throughput, cattle prices are steady, with base quotes holding on 312p to 320p/kg for U-3 grading animals.
Farmers report that factories continue to work from a starting price of 320p/kg on steers and cattle are moving freely at this level. Deals on offer are limited to 2p to 4p/kg above base.
Heifers continue to move from an opening price of 324p/kg, with 328p to 330p/kg on offer at the upper end of the market for farmers with bigger numbers to offload.
Farmers report delays of between two and three weeks to get animals processed, with out-of-spec animals and cows in particular facing lengthy waiting periods.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers increased by 0.2p to 316.4p/kg, with U3 steers down 0.4p to 321.6p/kg. The average price paid on U3 heifers increased by 2p to 329.3p/kg.
Cows
Base quotes on cull cows are steady, despite bigger numbers on offer, although price deals are harder to come by.
Quotes on R3 cows remain on 260p/kg, with O+3 animals on 250p/kg.
Lamb trade
The lamb trade is steady this week, with quotes at processing plants on 345p/kg, making a lamb worth £72.45 at the 21kg carcase weight limit. The trade in the marts is steady, although demand from buyers for southern plants will be muted given that the euro has eased against sterling.
In Kilrea, 480 lambs sold from 302p to 317p/kg, no change on last week.
Massereene had a show of 966 lambs making from 300p to 340p/kg, up by 16p/kg for lighter lambs. Good-quality Texels weighing 27kg made £76, with 25kg lots making £77.50 and £76. Lambs at 23kg made £73, with good lambs at 21.5kg making £72.50.
In Saintfield, 483 lambs sold from 300p to 355p/kg, no change on last week.
Rathfriland had a show of 645 lambs making from 295p to 378p/kg, with a sale average of 318p/kg, up by 1p/kg on last week.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade has eased this week, with lower prices on offer. The top price in Newtownstewart was £82, while in Omagh, it was £74.
Swatragh sold ewes to £94 for a show of 180 head. In Massereene, ewes made £91 and in Saintfield, top price was £90. In Rathfriland, top price was £100 with a big run from £80 to £95/head.
Store lambs in Ballymena sold from £65 to £67.50 for Texels with £66 paid for Suffolks.
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