Strong beef prices are continuing to underpin a vibrant mart trade. Cattle numbers coming forward for sale have tailed off in recent weeks, further boosting the live trade, as cattle agents and specialist finishers compete for a smaller pool of cattle.

Demand is strongest for heavy and forward bullocks suited to a short intensive finishing period. Good-quality continental steers are selling from 210p/kg to 225p/kg, with some exceptional animals making as far as 230p/kg.

Steers weighing 600kg and above, are selling to an average of 217p/kg based on Irish Farmers Journal MartWatch data, making a 650kg steer worth £1,410.

Plainer and average quality bullocks at similar weights are selling from 180p/kg to 200p/kg, with 650kg steers typically making £1,228/kg or 189p/kg.

Friesian bullocks remain a strong trade averaging 157p/kg this week, but good-quality types are realising 170p/kg to 180p/kg at some marts, especially at those marts with a large presence of specialist finishers.

Heifers

Beef heifers are limited in numbers. Where animals are offered for sale, prices typically range from 190p/kg to 220p/kg with U-grade animals at the upper end of the price range.

Cull cows prices have soared in recent weeks as factories increase prices towards 300p/kg on good-quality beef animals. Fleshed continental animals are selling to 220p/kg at the top end of the market.

Good-quality Friesian cows are making from 130p/kg to 150p/kg with specialist finishers driving the trade.

Britain

Beef prices in Northern Ireland have held steady this week, with base factory quotes now on 366p/kg for U-3 grades, putting the local trade on a par with much of England.

Prices in Scotland are around the 376p/kg mark for U3 steers and heifers, with R4L animals on 380p/kg to 383p/kg.

Lamb trade

There are mixed messages in the lamb trade this week. With a bank holiday weekend in the Republic of Ireland, the weekend mart trade was much slower with lambs making around £100/head due to reduced buying demand from agents working for southern plants. NI processors have tried to talk the trade down with one plant pulling quotes to 460p/kg. But several lamb producers have indicated that 470p/kg to 480p/kg was still being paid midweek.