It’s a case as you were in the beef trade this week. Processors have left cattle quotes unchanged and the numbers of cattle coming on to the market remain strong.

There were efforts to ease base quotes by 2p/kg at processing plants late last week, but such moves did not materialise. In actual fact, one plant added 2p/kg to their base price.

This keeps the range of quotes for U3 grading steers on 350p to 352p/kg, with U grading heifers holding on 352p/kg.

With plenty of cattle on offer, farmers continue to face delays in getting animals booked for slaughter.

Most cattle agents indicate they have sufficient numbers to take them through next week and into the last week of October.

Cows, dairy-bred cattle and out-of-spec animals remain a difficult sell at present and farmers indicate there is little room to negotiate for an improved price on these animals.

However, farmers with a good supply of prime steers and heifers meeting market spec on grade and weight are in a stronger selling position.

Prime cattle, and particularly heifers, are in demand. Farmers with animals to sell are facing less of a delay in getting animals slaughtered and are also managing to secure improved prices.

Steers are making 354p to 358p/kg, with heifers making 360p to 362p/kg at the upper end of the market for regular finishers.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was down 1p to 351.1p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers was 356.5p/kg, with U3 heifers averaging 364p/kg. Young bulls averaged 351.2p/kg for U3 animals. The prime cattle kill stood at 7,054 head, with the cow kill one of the highest this year on 2,308 head.

Cows

With an increased supply of cull cows, quotes remain on 275p/kg for R3 animals, with O+3 cows on 265p/kg.

Lamb trade

Although there are still plenty of lambs on offer, the trade is slightly firmer, with one plant adding 5p/kg to its base quote, bringing it to 375p/kg. This makes a lamb worth £78.75 at the 21kg limit.

In the marts, there were good shows and prices were up a little, by around £2 per head.

On Monday in Kilrea, they sold 400 lambs from 330p to 368p/kg, up by 10p/kg for heavier lambs. Massereene sold 968 lambs making from 330p to 368p/kg, up by 5p to 8p/kg.

On Tuesday, Saintfield had 450 lambs making from 330p to 400p/kg, up by 4p/kg for heavier lambs. At Rathfriland, 655 lambs sold from 321p to 411p/kg, averaging 340p/kg, up by 2p/kg on last week. In Lisahally, prices were up by around £2/head. Top prices reached £82 for very heavy lambs. Good lambs at 24kg made from £76 to £79 per head.

Ewes

The fat ewe trade is reasonable steady, with the top prices up at some marts. Top price in Omagh was £82. Swatragh sold 200 head to £94. Top in Massereene was £90 for 190 sold. Saintfield sold 105 ewes to a top of £112. In Rathfriland, ewes sold to £79 for 180 sold.

In Ballymena, forward store lambs were a great trade. The best Texels made up to £69, with Suffolks to £70.50. The best Texels for breeding made £151 and £141. Suffolk and crossbred hoggets sold to £138, with Blackface to £130 and Cheviots to £115.

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