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Supplies of finished cattle have tightened significantly in the past week, leaving factory agents with little choice but to offer more to tempt farmers in their direction.
Farmers offloading cattle this week indicate that 380p/kg is readily available for in-spec steers and heifers, with higher prices on offer where bigger numbers could be supplied
Young bulls under 16 months are moving off farm at deals as high as 374p to 376p/kg for animals below 400kg carcase weight. Last week, the official prices paid on prime cattle rose to a two-year high point, with U3 steers up 3.7p to 373.5p/kg while U3 heifers jumped by 6p/kg to an average of 377p/kg.
Lambs
While cattle prices continue to firm, the lamb trade is on a much steadier footing as processors finalise orders ahead of the Eid Al-Adha festival which begins on 30 July.
Base quotes remain on 470p/kg and with a surge in the numbers coming on to the market, prices above that are generally limited to 475p/kg, with the occasional 480p/kg for larger producers.
In the live ring, prices are holding on with lambs weighing 21kg halfweight making £97 to £100, and heavier lots selling to £112.
Supplies
While factory agents are pointing to lower prices next week, an extremely strong throughput during 2020, means supplies of finished lambs are expected to tighten again.
To week ending 11 July, factory throughput has totalled 208,599, an increase of 23,552 on the 2019 figure, and the highest factory kill since 2015.
Breeding hoggets
Meanwhile, a special entry of hoggets at Markethill Mart last week saw good quality Suffolk Cheviot and Texel animals selling from £170 to a peak of £188.
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